Bill · S. 4980· Senate(119-S-4980)
Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 7/14/2026
- Last activity
- 7/14/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Sponsored by
- Edward Markey
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Water Emergency and Technical Assistance Act of 2026 seeks to amend existing water laws. It aims to reauthorize emergency technical assistance within the Safe Drinking Water Act. Additionally, it seeks to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize new emergency technical assistance and grants. The bill provides for funding to help respond to emergency situations affecting treatment works. This includes potential assistance for situations resulting from cybersecurity events.
Yes· 3 of 10
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+4
The bill increases funding and provides technical assistance to manage water pollution and sewage overflow emergencies.
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?+3
The bill explicitly authorizes assistance for emergency situations resulting from cybersecurity events affecting water treatment works.
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+2
The bill provides specialized emergency technical assistance and grants for water-related environmental disasters.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Funding for Drinking Water Emergencies: The bill increases funding for the Safe Drinking Water Act from $35,000,000 to $50,000,000 for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (Section 101).
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Support for Water Treatment Emergencies: The Administrator can provide technical assistance and grants to States or publicly owned treatment works to help respond to and alleviate emergency situations (Section 201(a)).
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Protection Against Health Dangers: Grants can be used for activities necessary for preventing, limiting, or mitigating danger to public health during an emergency (Section 201(b)(1)).
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Cybersecurity Protection: The assistance can address emergency situations resulting from a cybersecurity event affecting treatment works (Section 201(a)).
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Economic Relief for Ratepayers: The bill specifies that grants may be used for actions that would not be economically feasible for ratepayers to take on their own (Section 101 and Section 201(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the provided text.
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 Environmental Protections+4Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Middle Class Households+2Good For Urban Residents+1
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+2Improves Pandemic Preparedness+1
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- 7/14/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts