Reps. Delgado and Van Drew Introduce Bipartisan Clean Water for Rural America Act

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representatives Antonio Delgado (NY-19) and Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) introduced the Clean Water for Rural America Act, bipartisan legislation that empowers small and rural municipalities to apply for low-interest wastewater infrastructure loans. The bill would increase funding for technical assistance grants within the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), providing critical support for upstate communities to access Clean Water Act programs.

"Clean water is a fundamental human right and an economic necessity," said Rep. Delgado. "I'm proud to introduce bipartisan legislation that levels the playing field for upstate communities. By increasing technical assistance grants for small water systems, we can ensure that all of our towns and cities--regardless of size--can access this critically important federal program."

"Rural communities across the United States struggle with inadequate wastewater infrastructure," said Rep. Van Drew. "Insufficient water systems can lead to safety hazards, infrastructure damage, and poor living conditions. I've witnessed these negative impacts first-hand in Southern New Jersey. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that provides rural and small communities with the resources and technical assistance they need to address their wastewater challenges head-on."

"In rural communities across the country, many families lack access to even basic wastewater systems," said Nathan Ohle, CEO of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP). "This is a critical public health and safety issue, and we need an all hands-on deck approach to solve this ongoing problem. RCAP is proud to support the Clean Water for Rural America Act to provide all small towns and rural communities with access to the infrastructure, technical assistance, and clean water services they need. We thank Congressman Delgado and Congressman Van Drew for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to rural America."

More than 850 municipalities across New York State received $175 million in low-interest loans from the CWSRF in 2020. Technical assistance grants allow small and rural municipalities, which often lack the resources necessary to apply for these loans, to shoulder the burden of submitting applications. As the House aims to increase overall funding for the CWSRF, Rep. Delgado's legislation ensures that technical assistance grant funding grows apace.

Specifically, the Clean Water for Rural America Act:

Increases authorization levels for CWSRF technical assistance grants for rural, small, and tribal municipalities from $25 million annually to $100 million annually from FY 2022 to FY 2026.
Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to publish a report detailing the implementation of the technical assistance grant program.

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