S. 4980

119 S4980 IS: Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act of 2026
 U.S. Senate
 2026-07-14
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 4980  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   July 14, 2026   Mr. Markey  (for himself and  Ms. Warren ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Environment and Public Works    A BILL
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize emergency technical assistance, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize emergency technical assistance and grants, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title; table of contents
(a)
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act of 2026  .
(b)
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—Drinking Water
Sec. 101. Emergency situations.
TITLE II—Clean Water
Sec. 201. Emergency technical assistance and grants for treatment works.
I
Drinking Water
101.
Emergency situations
Section 1442 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300j–1 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b), in the second sentence, in clause (ii), by inserting  or be economically feasible for ratepayers  after  be taken ; and
(2)
in subsection (d), by striking  $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026  and inserting  $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 .
II
Clean Water
201.
Emergency technical assistance and grants for treatment works
Title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1281 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
228.
Emergency technical assistance and grants
(a)
In general
The Administrator may provide technical assistance and grants to States or publicly owned treatment works to assist in responding to and alleviating an emergency situation affecting treatment works (including an emergency situation resulting from a cybersecurity event) that, as determined by the Administrator, present substantial danger to the public health, such as heightened exposure to contaminants from sewer overflows.
(b)
Use of funds
A grant under this section shall only be used to support an activity that—
(1)
is necessary for preventing, limiting, or mitigating danger to the public health in the applicable emergency situation; and
(2)
would not, in the judgment of the Administrator, be taken or be economically feasible for ratepayers without the grant.
(c)
Coordination with other programs
(1)
In general
The Administrator may, subject to paragraph (2), carry out this section as part of, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, any other program of assistance for environmental emergencies that the Administrator is authorized to carry out under any other provision of law.
(2)
Applicability of limitations
No limitation on appropriations for any program described in paragraph (1) shall apply to amounts made available under this section.
(d)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
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