[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2656 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2656
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide grants for nitrate and
arsenic reduction projects, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2025
Mrs. Torres of California (for herself and Mr. Valadao) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to provide grants for nitrate and
arsenic reduction projects, 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 ``Removing Nitrate and Arsenic in
Drinking Water Act''.
SEC. 2. NITRATE AND ARSENIC REDUCTION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Part E of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C.
300j et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1459G the
following:
``SEC. 1459H. NITRATE AND ARSENIC REDUCTION GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Arsenic reduction project.--The term `arsenic
reduction project' means a project or activity the primary
purpose of which is to reduce the concentration of arsenic in
water for human consumption.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a community water system;
``(B) a nontransient noncommunity water system;
``(C) a qualified nonprofit organization with
experience in nitrate or arsenic reduction, as
determined by the Administrator; and
``(D) a municipality or State, interstate, or
intermunicipal agency, including a special-purpose unit
of local government.
``(3) Nitrate reduction project.--The term `nitrate
reduction project' means a project or activity the primary
purpose of which is to reduce the concentration of nitrate in
water for human consumption.
``(4) Low-income.--The term `low-income', with respect to
assistance under subsection (b)(4), has such meaning as may be
given the term by the Governor of the State in which the
eligible entity is located, based upon the affordability
criteria established by the State under section 1452(d)(3).
``(5) Nontransient noncommunity water system.--The term
`nontransient noncommunity water system' means a noncommunity
water system that regularly serves at least 25 of the same
persons over a 6 month period, or more, per year.
``(b) Grant Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Administrator shall establish a grant
program to provide assistance to eligible entities for nitrate
or arsenic reduction projects in the United States.
``(2) Precondition.--As a condition of receipt of
assistance under this subsection, an eligible entity shall take
steps to identify--
``(A) the source of nitrate or arsenic, as
applicable, in the public water system that is subject
to human consumption; and
``(B) the means by which the proposed nitrate or
arsenic reduction project would meaningfully reduce the
concentration of nitrate or arsenic in water provided
for human consumption by the applicable public water
system.
``(3) Priority application.--In providing grants under this
subsection, the Administrator shall give priority to an
eligible entity that the Administrator determines, based on
affordability criteria established by the State under section
1452(d)(3), to be a disadvantaged community and--
``(A) has not been in compliance with the maximum
contaminant level of nitrate or arsenic, as applicable,
at any time during the 3-year period preceding the date
of submission of the application of such eligible
entity; or
``(B) proposes to address nitrate or arsenic
levels, as applicable, in water for human consumption
at a school, daycare, or other facility that primarily
serves children or other vulnerable human subpopulation
described in section 1458(a)(1).
``(4) Low-income assistance.--An eligible entity may use a
grant provided under this subsection to purchase and install
treatment technology that reduces the amount of nitrate or
arsenic, as applicable, in drinking water, with first priority
given to assisting disadvantaged communities based on the
affordability criteria established by the applicable State
under section 1452(d)(3), low-income homeowners, and landlords
or property owners providing housing to low-income renters.
``(c) Limitation on Use of Funds.--Not more than 4 percent of funds
made available for grants under this section may be used to pay the
administrative costs of the Administrator.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
``(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
``(2) $15,000,000 for each fiscal year thereafter.''.
(b) Review.--The Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency shall conduct a review on the extent the nitrate and arsenic
reduction grant program under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C.
300j et seq.), as added by subsection (a), takes into consideration
equity to improve equity outcomes, including taking into consideration
the diverse needs of economically disadvantaged and underserved
populations.
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