Bill > S1019

This bill establishes an emergency preparedness and response technical assistance program within the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to help rural water and wastewater systems better prepare for and respond to natural or manmade disasters. The program will provide grants to eligible nonprofit organizations with demonstrated experience in emergency technical assistance for water and wastewater utilities. These organizations must have personnel with active utility operator licenses or specialized knowledge. Grant recipients can use the funds for a wide range of activities, including deploying onsite personnel during disasters, coordinating with emergency response networks, developing disaster action plans, improving system resilience, creating infrastructure maps, conducting vulnerability assessments, performing damage evaluations, providing emergency repair services (such as pump repairs, water disinfection, and line repairs), addressing system deficiencies, assisting with federal and state agency applications, and supporting disadvantaged communities with limited resources. The bill limits equipment purchases to 25% of the grant amount and prohibits using the funds for activities already covered by other federal funding. The program is authorized $20 million annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2029, with the goal of enhancing the preparedness and response capabilities of rural water and wastewater systems across the United States.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1019/all-info