Bill · S. 1019· Senate(119-S-1019)
Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act
- Introduced
- 3/13/2025
- Last activity
- 3/13/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Catherine Cortez Masto
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act, proposes an amendment to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. It seeks to establish an emergency preparedness and response technical assistance program. This program would provide grants to specific nonprofit organizations to assist rural water or wastewater systems. The goal is to help these systems prepare for and respond to natural or manmade disasters. The Secretary would oversee the program, which includes an authorized appropriation of $20,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2029.
Yes· 3 of 5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+8
The bill specifically focuses on the preparedness of rural water and wastewater systems.
Does this invest in rural communities?+7
The bill directly funds technical assistance for rural water and wastewater systems.
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+6
The bill enhances disaster preparedness and service restoration for rural water systems.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Disaster Preparedness and Response Assistance: The program provides grants to nonprofits to assist rural water or wastewater systems in preparing for and responding to natural or manmade disasters (Section 2, Subparagraph A).
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Support for Disadvantaged Communities: Grant funds can be used for activities targeted to disadvantaged communities that lack the financial resources and human capital to address health, safety, or sanitary concerns regarding their water and wastewater systems (Section 2, Subparagraph C, clause xi).
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Service Restoration: The bill allows for emergency services to help restore water and wastewater services during a disaster, including tasks like pump repair, water disinfection, leak detection, and line repair (Section 2, Subparagraph C, clause viii).
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Resiliency and Planning: Funds can be used to improve resiliency, create disaster action plans, and update emergency response plans or vulnerability assessments (Section 2, Subparagraph C, clauses iii, iv, and vi).
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System Mapping and Assessment: The program allows for the use of geographic information system mapping and the conducting of preliminary damage assessments for critical infrastructure (Section 2, Subparagraph C, clauses v and vii).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Equipment Rental: There is a limitation that no more than 25 percent of a grant can be used to purchase or reimburse the rental costs of emergency equipment (Section 2, Subparagraph D, clause ii).
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Funding Restrictions: Eligible entities are prohibited from using these grant funds to pay for activities for which they already receive other Federal funds (Section 2, Subparagraph E).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+7Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+6Improves Environmental Protections+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+8Good For Low Income Households+5
- 10/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia