[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4134 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4134
To amend the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014
with respect to the total amount of Federal assistance for projects in
States experiencing severe drought and projects in historically
disadvantaged communities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 16, 2024
Mr. Padilla introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014
with respect to the total amount of Federal assistance for projects in
States experiencing severe drought and projects in historically
disadvantaged communities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Drought Relief Obtained Using
Government Help Today Act of 2024'' or the ``DROUGHT Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
Section 5029(b)(9) of the Water Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 3908(b)(9)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(D) Exceptions for certain projects.--
``(i) Projects in states experiencing
severe drought.--Notwithstanding subparagraph
(A), the Administrator may finance up to 90
percent of the costs of a project described in
paragraph (6) or (7) of section 5026 located
in--
``(I) a State that has been
designated as D2 (severe drought) or
greater according to the United States
Drought Monitor for a minimum of 4
weeks during any of the 3 years
preceding the date on which assistance
is provided for the project under this
subtitle; or
``(II) a county for which a drought
emergency has been declared by the
applicable Governor at any time during
the 3-year period preceding that date.
``(ii) Projects in historically
disadvantaged communities.--Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), the Administrator may finance
up to 90 percent of the costs of a project
described in paragraph (6) or (7) of section
5026 that serves a community that--
``(I) is designated as
disadvantaged, underserved, or
financially distressed by--
``(aa) the Climate and
Economic Justice Screening Tool
of the Council on Environmental
Quality; or
``(bb) the Administrator
pursuant to a water
infrastructure program of the
Environmental Protection
Agency, including water
infrastructure grant programs,
clean water and drinking water
grant programs, and other grant
programs under the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C.
300f et seq.) and the Federal
Water Protection Control Act
(33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); or
``(II) meets the affordability
criteria established by a State
pursuant to section 1452(d)(3) of the
Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C.
300j-12(d)(3)) or section 603(i)(2) of
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(33 U.S.C. 1383(i)(2)).
``(iii) Priority.--In carrying out this
subparagraph, the Administrator shall
prioritize financing for projects that--
``(I) are located in a State that
is experiencing severe drought, as
described in subclause (I) of clause
(i), or a county for which a drought
emergency has been declared, as
described in subclause (II) of that
clause; and
``(II) serve a community that is
designated as disadvantaged,
underserved, or financially distressed,
or meets affordability criteria
established by a State, as described in
clause (ii).''.
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