[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3317 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3317
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to review all
clean water-related technical assistance authorities of the
Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 3, 2025
Mr. Husted (for himself and Mr. Schiff) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to review all
clean water-related technical assistance authorities of the
Environmental Protection Agency, 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 ``Water Resources Technical Assistance
Review Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. GAO REPORT ON CLEAN WATER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Comptroller general.--The term ``Comptroller General''
means the Comptroller General of the United States.
(3) Covered technical assistance.--The term ``covered
technical assistance'' means a technical assistance authority,
initiative, or program of the Administrator that is related to
clean water infrastructure.
(b) Comprehensive Review Required.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall initiate a
comprehensive review of all covered technical assistance.
(c) Requirements.--The Comptroller General shall include in the
review required under subsection (b) the following:
(1) A description of all covered technical assistance
available to States, Indian Tribes, local governments, and
nongovernmental organizations, including--
(A) the regions and populations that are served
through the provision of covered technical assistance;
and
(B) a summary of the activities and actions carried
out through covered technical assistance during the 5-
year period ending on the date of enactment of this
Act.
(2) A comprehensive review of how the Administrator,
through the Water Technical Assistance initiative (commonly
known as the ``WaterTA initiative'' and referred to in this
paragraph as the ``initiative''), identifies, selects, and
partners with technical assistance providers to support
communities, including--
(A) a description of the criteria, evaluation
process, and contracting mechanisms used for selecting
those providers;
(B) a description of the extent of coordination
with State, Tribal, and regional partners in the
selection and deployment of those providers;
(C) a description of how those providers are
matched to meet the needs of local communities,
including any pre-engagement scoping activities or
community consultations;
(D) a description of how those providers identify
communities in need of technical assistance, including
economically distressed communities, and conduct
outreach to those communities;
(E) a description of the scope and types of
assistance delivered through the initiative; and
(F) a list of communities that received technical
assistance support through the initiative, including
the type and cost of assistance received by each such
community and a summary of the outcomes associated with
the provision of the technical assistance.
(3) An analysis of any duplication of covered technical
assistance available through multiple programs of the
Administrator.
(4) An evaluation of how the provision of covered technical
assistance builds capacity in communities to access other water
infrastructure programs carried out by the Administrator.
(5) An assessment of the needs of economically distressed
communities eligible to receive assistance under a clean water
infrastructure program carried out by the Administrator that is
not addressed through covered technical assistance.
(6) An evaluation of how the Administrator carries out
covered technical assistance in coordination with the heads of
other Federal agencies that provide technical assistance
related to water infrastructure.
(7) An evaluation of how covered technical assistance
supports communities in understanding, identifying, and
implementing alternative and cost-effective technologies and
features of treatment works that achieve long-term savings and
improved outcomes in addressing water quality challenges.
(d) Report.--On the completion of the review required under
subsection (b), the Comptroller General shall submit to the
Administrator, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the
Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives a report containing--
(1) the findings of the review; and
(2) any recommendations to improve covered technical
assistance.
(e) Plan for Compliance.--Not later than 90 days after the date on
which the Comptroller General submits the report required under
subsection (d), and annually thereafter for each of the following 5
years, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Environment
and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a plan describing any
actions the Administrator has taken to comply with the recommendations
contained in the report.
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