[House Report 117-69]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                    {        Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                    {        117-69

======================================================================



 
         WATER QUALITY PROTECTION AND JOB CREATION ACT OF 2021

                                _______
                                

 June 22, 2021.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. DeFazio, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                             MINORITY VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 1915]

    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 1915) to amend the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act to reauthorize certain water pollution 
control programs, and for other purposes, having considered the 
same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and 
recommends that the bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose of Legislation...........................................    11
Background and Need for Legislation..............................    12
Hearings.........................................................    21
Legislative History and Consideration............................    21
Committee Votes..................................................    22
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................    24
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................    25
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................    25
Performance Goals and Objectives.................................    25
Duplication of Federal Programs..................................    25
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
  Benefits.......................................................    25
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................    26
Preemption Clarification.........................................    26
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................    26
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................    26
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................    26
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............    31
Minority Views...................................................    69

    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Water Quality 
Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Wastewater infrastructure workforce investment.
Sec. 3. Technical assistance to rural, small, and Tribal 
municipalities.
Sec. 4. State management assistance.
Sec. 5. Watershed, wet weather, and resiliency projects.
Sec. 6. Waiver of matching requirement for grants to District of 
Columbia.
Sec. 7. Pilot program for alternative water source projects.
Sec. 8. Sewer overflow and stormwater reuse municipal grants.
Sec. 9. Grants for the treatment of emerging contaminants.
Sec. 10. Household wastewater grant program.
Sec. 11. Smart wastewater infrastructure technology grant program.
Sec. 12. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 13. Indian Tribes.
Sec. 14. Capitalization grants.
Sec. 15. Water pollution control revolving loan funds.
Sec. 16. Allotment of funds.
Sec. 17. Reservation of funds for territories of the United States.
Sec. 18. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 19. Technical assistance by Municipal Ombudsman.
Sec. 20. Report on wastewater infrastructure funding for rural, 
economically disadvantaged, and Tribal communities.
Sec. 21. Water Reuse Interagency Working Group.

SEC. 2. WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.

  Section 104(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1254(g)) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``manpower'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``workforce''; and
          (2) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
          ``(4) Report to congress on publicly owned treatment works 
        workforce development.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
        of enactment of the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation 
        Act of 2021, the Administrator, in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Labor, shall submit to the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public 
        Works of the Senate a report containing--
                  ``(A) an assessment of the current and future 
                workforce needs for publicly owned treatment works, 
                including an estimate of the number of future positions 
                needed for such treatment works and the technical 
                skills and education needed for such positions;
                  ``(B) a summary of actions taken by the 
                Administrator, including Federal investments under this 
                chapter, that promote workforce development to address 
                such needs; and
                  ``(C) any recommendations of the Administrator to 
                address such needs.''.

SEC. 3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO RURAL, SMALL, AND TRIBAL 
                    MUNICIPALITIES.

  (a) Reauthorization.--Section 104(u) of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1254(u)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``and (7)'' and inserting ``(7)'';
          (2) by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2021''; and
          (3) by inserting ``; and (8) not to exceed $100,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 for carrying out 
        subsections (b)(3), (b)(8), and (g), except that not less than 
        half of the amounts so appropriated to carry out such 
        subsections in each such fiscal year shall be used for carrying 
        out subsection (b)(8)'' before the period at the end.
  (b) Communication.--A nonprofit organization receiving a grant under 
section 104(b)(8) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1254(b)(8)) shall, prior to carrying out an activity using such grant 
funds, consult with the State in which such activity is to be carried 
out.
  (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
shall submit to Congress a report that describes the implementation of 
the grants made under subsections (b)(3), (b)(8), and (g) of section 
104 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1254) during 
the 2 fiscal years preceding the date of the report, including a 
description of the recipients and amounts of such grants.

SEC. 4. STATE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE.

  (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 106(a) of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1256(a)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1); and
          (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
          ``(3) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
        1991 through 2021; and
          ``(4) $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
        2026;''.
  (b) Technical Amendment.--Section 106(e) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1256(e)) is amended by striking 
``Beginning in fiscal year 1974 the'' and inserting ``The''.

SEC. 5. WATERSHED, WET WEATHER, AND RESILIENCY PROJECTS.

  (a) Increased Resilience of Treatment Works.--Section 122(a)(6) of 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1274(a)(6)) is 
amended to read as follows:
          ``(6) Increased resilience of treatment works.--Efforts--
                  ``(A) to assess future risks and vulnerabilities of 
                publicly owned treatment works to manmade or natural 
                disasters, including extreme weather events, drought, 
                and sea level rise; and
                  ``(B) to carry out the planning, design, or 
                construction of projects, on a systemwide or areawide 
                basis, to increase the resilience of publicly owned 
                treatment works through--
                          ``(i) the conservation of water or the 
                        enhancement of water use efficiency;
                          ``(ii) the enhancement of wastewater 
                        (including stormwater) management by increasing 
                        watershed preservation and protection, 
                        including through--
                                  ``(I) the use of green 
                                infrastructure; or
                                  ``(II) the reclamation and reuse of 
                                wastewater (including stormwater), such 
                                as through aquifer recharge zones;
                          ``(iii) the modification or relocation of an 
                        existing publicly owned treatment works at risk 
                        of being significantly impaired or damaged by a 
                        manmade or natural disaster;
                          ``(iv) the enhancement of energy efficiency, 
                        or the use or generation of recovered or 
                        renewable energy, in the management, treatment, 
                        or conveyance of wastewater (including 
                        stormwater); or
                          ``(v) other activities that the Administrator 
                        determines will address identified 
                        vulnerabilities to manmade or natural 
                        disasters, including activities to address 
                        cybersecurity vulnerabilities of publicly owned 
                        treatment works.''.
  (b) Requirements; Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 122 of 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1274) is amended by 
striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
  ``(c) Requirements.--The requirements of section 608 shall apply to 
any construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of treatment works 
carried out using a grant under this section.
  ``(d) Assistance.--The Administrator shall use not less than 15 
percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to this section in a 
fiscal year to provide assistance to municipalities with a population 
of less than 10,000, or for economically disadvantaged communities (as 
defined in section 20 of the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation 
Act of 2021), to the extent there are sufficient eligible applications.
  ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026.''.
  (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
          (1) Watershed pilot projects.--Section 122 of the Federal 
        Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1274) is amended--
                  (A) in the section heading, by striking ``watershed 
                pilot projects'' and inserting ``watershed, wet 
                weather, and resiliency projects''; and
                  (B) by striking ``pilot'' each place it appears.
          (2) Water pollution control revolving loan funds.--Section 
        603(c)(7) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
        1383(c)(7)) is amended by striking ``watershed''.

SEC. 6. WAIVER OF MATCHING REQUIREMENT FOR GRANTS TO DISTRICT OF 
                    COLUMBIA.

  Section 202(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1282(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
  ``(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, in the 
case of a project for a treatment works in the District of Columbia, 
such a project shall be eligible for grants at 100 percent of the cost 
of construction thereof.''.

SEC. 7. PILOT PROGRAM FOR ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCE PROJECTS.

  (a) Selection of Projects.--Section 220(d) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1300(d)) is amended--
          (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
          ``(1) Limitation on eligibility.--A project that has received 
        construction funds under the Reclamation Projects Authorization 
        and Adjustment Act of 1992 shall not be eligible for grant 
        assistance under this section.''; and
          (2) by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraph (3) 
        as paragraph (2).
  (b) Committee Resolution Procedure; Assistance.--Section 220 of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1300) is amended by 
striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
  ``(e) Assistance.--The Administrator shall use not less than 15 
percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to this section in a 
fiscal year to provide assistance to eligible entities for projects 
designed to serve fewer than 10,000 individuals, to the extent there 
are sufficient eligible applications.''.
  (c) Requirements.--Section 220 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1300) is amended by redesignating subsections (i) and 
(j) as subsections (j) and (k), respectively, and inserting after 
subsection (h) the following:
  ``(i) Requirements.--The requirements of section 608 shall apply to 
any construction of an alternative water source project carried out 
using assistance made available under this section.''.
  (d) Definitions.--Section 220(j)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act (as redesignated by subsection (c) of this section) is 
amended by striking ``or by treating wastewater'' and inserting 
``(including stormwater), or by treating wastewater (including 
stormwater) for groundwater recharge, potable reuse, or other 
purposes''.
  (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 220(k) of the Federal 
Water Pollution Control Act (as redesignated by subsection (c) of this 
section) is amended by striking ``a total of $75,000,000 for fiscal 
years 2002 through 2004'' and inserting ``$200,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2022 through 2026''.

SEC. 8. SEWER OVERFLOW AND STORMWATER REUSE MUNICIPAL GRANTS.

  Section 221 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1301) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``subsection (b),'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``this section,'';
          (2) in subsection (d)--
                  (A) by striking ``The Federal share'' and inserting 
                the following:
          ``(1) Federal share.--
                  ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), the Federal share''; and
                  (B) by striking ``The non-Federal share'' and 
                inserting the following:
                  ``(B) Financially distressed communities.--The 
                Federal share of the cost of activities carried out 
                using amounts from a grant made to a financially 
                distressed community under subsection (a) shall be not 
                less than 75 percent of the cost.
          ``(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share'';
          (3) in subsection (e), by striking ``section 513'' and 
        inserting ``section 513, or the requirements of section 608,''; 
        and
          (4) in subsection (f)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, and 
                $400,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
                2026'' before the period at the end; and
                  (B) by adding at the end the following:
          ``(3) Assistance.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
        Administrator shall ensure that, of the amounts granted to 
        municipalities in a State, not less than 20 percent is granted 
        to municipalities with a population of less than 20,000, to the 
        extent there are sufficient eligible applications.''.

SEC. 9. GRANTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS.

  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:

``SEC. 222. EMERGING CONTAMINANTS.

  ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall award grants to owners of 
publicly owned treatment works to be used for the implementation of a 
pretreatment standard or effluent limitation developed pursuant to this 
Act for the introduction into a treatment works, or the discharge of, 
any pollutant that is a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance or 
any pollutant identified by the Administrator as a contaminant of 
emerging concern.
  ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026.''.

SEC. 10. HOUSEHOLD WASTEWATER GRANT PROGRAM.

  Title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1281 
et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 223. HOUSEHOLD WASTEWATER GRANT PROGRAM.

  ``(a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a program to 
provide grants to municipalities or qualified nonprofit entities to 
provide assistance to eligible individuals--
          ``(1) for the construction, repair, or replacement of an 
        individual household decentralized wastewater treatment system;
          ``(2) for the construction of a decentralized wastewater 
        treatment system designed to provide wastewater treatment for 2 
        or more households in which eligible individuals reside, if--
                  ``(A) such a decentralized wastewater treatment 
                system could be cost-effectively constructed; and
                  ``(B) site conditions at such households are 
                unsuitable for the construction of an individual 
                household decentralized wastewater treatment system; or
          ``(3) in a case in which an eligible individual resides in a 
        household that could be cost-effectively connected to an 
        available publicly owned treatment works, for the connection of 
        the applicable household to such treatment works.
  ``(b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
subsection, a municipality or qualified nonprofit entity shall submit 
to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Administrator determines to be 
appropriate.
  ``(c) Priority.--In providing grants under this section, the 
Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable, prioritize 
applications for activities that will assist eligible individuals 
residing in households that are not connected to a system or technology 
designed to treat domestic sewage, including eligible individuals using 
household cesspools.
  ``(d) Administrative Expenses.--
          ``(1) In general.--Of the amounts made available under 
        subsection (h), the Administrator may use not more than 2 
        percent for administrative costs.
          ``(2) Individual grants.--A municipality or qualified 
        nonprofit entity may use grant funds provided under this 
        section to pay the administrative expenses associated with the 
        provision of the assistance to eligible individuals under this 
        section, as the Administrator determines to be appropriate.
  ``(e) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this section, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report describing the recipients of grants and assistance under this 
section and the results of the program established under this section.
  ``(f) Application of Other Requirements.--The requirements of 
sections 513 and 608 shall apply to any project for the construction, 
repair, or replacement of a decentralized wastewater treatment system, 
or for the connection of a household to a treatment works, for which 
assistance is received under this section.
  ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
          ``(1) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible individual' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 603(j).
          ``(2) Qualified nonprofit entity.--The term `qualified 
        nonprofit entity' means an entity determined by the 
        Administrator to be a qualified nonprofit entity for purposes 
        of section 603(c)(12).
  ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $50,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.

SEC. 11. SMART WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

  Title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1281 
et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 224. SMART WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

  ``(a) Grants.--The Administrator shall establish a program to provide 
grants to municipalities for projects for the planning, design, and 
construction, at publicly owned treatment works, of--
          ``(1) intelligent sewage or stormwater collection systems, 
        including such collection systems that incorporate technologies 
        that rely on--
                  ``(A) real-time monitoring (including through 
                sensors), embedded intelligence, and predictive 
                maintenance capabilities that improve the energy 
                efficiency, reliability, and resiliency of treatment 
                works; and
                  ``(B) the use of artificial intelligence and other 
                intelligent optimization tools that reduce operational 
                costs, including operational costs relating to energy 
                consumption and chemical treatment; or
          ``(2) innovative and alternative combined storm and sanitary 
        sewer projects, including groundwater recharge, that rely on 
        real-time data acquisition to support predictive aquifer 
        recharge through water reuse and stormwater management 
        capabilities.
  ``(b) Assistance.--The Administrator shall use not less than 20 
percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to this section in a 
fiscal year to provide assistance to municipalities with a population 
of less than 10,000, to the extent there are sufficient eligible 
applications.
  ``(c) Cost Share.--
          ``(1) In general.--The non-Federal share of the costs of an 
        activity carried out using a grant under this section shall be 
        25 percent.
          ``(2) Exception.--The Administrator may waive the cost-
        sharing requirement of paragraph (1) if the Administrator 
        determines that the municipality meets the affordability 
        criteria established under section 603(i)(2) by the State in 
        which the municipality is located.
  ``(d) Program Implementation.--
          ``(1) Guidance.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Administrator shall issue 
        guidance to municipalities on how to apply for a grant under 
        this section.
          ``(2) Decision on applications.--Not later than 30 days after 
        the date on which the Administrator receives an application for 
        a grant under this section, the Administrator shall determine 
        whether to provide such grant.
          ``(3) Application deficiency.--If the Administrator 
        determines that an application for a grant under this section 
        is incomplete, the Administrator shall notify the applicant and 
        provide the applicant the opportunity to resubmit the 
        application.
          ``(4) Consideration.--In determining whether to provide a 
        grant under this section, the Administrator shall consider the 
        potential positive effects of the project on water quality.
  ``(e) Compliance With Buy America.--The requirements of section 608 
shall apply to any project for construction for which assistance is 
received under this section.
  ``(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Administrator 
shall submit to Congress a report describing projects funded under this 
section, any related improvement of the resiliency of publicly owned 
treatment works, and recommendations to improve the grant program 
established under this section.
  ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $500,000,000 to carry out this section, to remain 
available until expended.''.

SEC. 12. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

  (a) Biennial Estimates.--Section 516(b)(1) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1375(b)(1)) is amended by striking 
``(B) a detailed estimate, biennially revised, of the cost of 
construction of all needed publicly owned treatment works in all of the 
States and of the cost of construction of all needed publicly owned 
treatment works in each of the States;'' and inserting ``(B) a detailed 
estimate, biennially revised, of the cost of construction of all 
planned publicly owned treatment works in all of the States and all 
needed publicly owned treatment works in all of the States, and the 
cost of construction of all planned publicly owned treatment works in 
each of the States and all needed publicly owned treatment works in 
each of the States, which estimates shall include (i) the cost of 
construction to rehabilitate or upgrade all existing publicly owned 
treatment works (excluding any pipe or other device or system for the 
conveyance of wastewater), every 20 years, including the costs to 
implement measures necessary to address the resilience and 
sustainability of publicly owned treatment works to manmade or natural 
disasters, and (ii) the cost of construction to replace 10 percent of 
existing publicly owned pipes and other devices and systems for the 
conveyance of wastewater to such treatment works over the 20-year 
period following the date of the estimate;''.
  (b) Annual Report on Use of Funds.--Section 516 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1375) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
  ``(f) Annual Report on Use of Funds.--Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter, the 
Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report that--
          ``(1) identifies projects that are--
                  ``(A) described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 
                602(b)(15)(A); and
                  ``(B) carried out using funds made available under or 
                pursuant to section 221 or title VI; and
          ``(2) identifies, to the extent practicable, the costs and 
        benefits of such projects, including any potential short- and 
        long-term cost savings to publicly owned treatment works and 
        any environmental and community benefits of implementing such 
        projects.''.

SEC. 13. INDIAN TRIBES.

  (a) In General.--Section 518(c) of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1377(c)) is amended--
          (1) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the 
        following:
          ``(1) In general.--For each fiscal year, the Administrator 
        shall reserve, of the funds made available to carry out title 
        VI (before allotments to the States under section 604(a)), the 
        greater of--
                  ``(A) 2 percent of such funds; or
                  ``(B) $30,000,000.
          ``(2) Use of funds.--
                  ``(A) Grants.--Funds reserved under this subsection 
                shall be available only for grants to entities 
                described in paragraph (3) for--
                          ``(i) projects and activities eligible for 
                        assistance under section 603(c); and
                          ``(ii) training, technical assistance, and 
                        educational programs relating to the operation 
                        and management of treatment works eligible for 
                        assistance pursuant to section 603(c).
                  ``(B) Limitation.--Not more than $2,000,000 of such 
                reserved funds may be used for grants under 
                subparagraph (A)(ii).''; and
          (2) in paragraph (3)--
                  (A) in the header, by striking ``Use of funds'' and 
                inserting ``Eligible entities''; and
                  (B) by striking ``for projects and activities 
                eligible for assistance under section 603(c) to serve'' 
                and inserting ``to''.
  (b) Additional Assistance.--
          (1) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to amounts 
        otherwise made available under title VI of the Federal Water 
        Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), there is 
        authorized to be appropriated $500,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2022 through 2026 to make grants, in cooperation with the 
        Director of the Indian Health Service, to entities described in 
        section 518(c)(3) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
        (33 U.S.C. 1377) for--
                  (A) projects and activities eligible for assistance 
                under section 603(c) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1383); and
                  (B) training, technical assistance, and educational 
                programs related to the operation and management of 
                treatment works eligible for assistance pursuant to 
                such section 603(c).
          (2) No matching requirement.--The Administrator may not 
        require an entity receiving a grant under paragraph (1) to 
        provide, as a condition of receiving such grant, a share of the 
        cost of the project or activity for which such grant was made.
          (3) Limitation.--Not more than $2,000,000 of amounts made 
        available in a fiscal year to carry out this subsection may be 
        used for grants under paragraph (1)(B).
          (4) Application of other requirements.--The requirements of 
        sections 513 and 608 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
        (33 U.S.C. 1372, 1388) shall apply to any project for the 
        construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of treatment 
        works for which a grant is received under paragraph (1).

SEC. 14. CAPITALIZATION GRANTS.

  (a) Specific Requirements.--Section 602(b) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1382(b)) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (13)(B)--
                  (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 
                ``and energy conservation'' and inserting ``and 
                efficient energy use (including through the 
                implementation of technologies to recover and reuse 
                energy produced in the treatment of wastewater)''; and
                  (B) in clause (iii), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
          (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and'' ; and
          (3) by adding at the end the following:
          ``(15) to the extent there are sufficient projects or 
        activities eligible for assistance from the fund, with respect 
        to funds for capitalization grants received by the State under 
        this title and section 205(m)--
                  ``(A) the State will use--
                          ``(i) not less than 15 percent of such funds 
                        for green infrastructure, water or energy 
                        efficiency improvements, or other 
                        environmentally innovative activities; and
                          ``(ii) not less than 5 percent of such funds 
                        for projects to increase the resiliency of 
                        treatment works to extreme weather events, 
                        drought, sea level rise, or other impacts of 
                        climate change; and
                  ``(B) the State will use not less than a total of 20 
                percent of such funds for projects described in 
                subparagraph (A).''.
  (b) Corrosion Control.--Section 602 of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1382) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
  ``(c) Corrosion Control.--
          ``(1) In general.--To the greatest extent practicable, the 
        Administrator shall encourage the incorporation of corrosion 
        prevention activities in projects and activities carried out 
        using financial assistance provided under or pursuant to this 
        title.
          ``(2) Activities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Administrator, to the greatest extent practicable, shall ensure 
        that any recipient of financial assistance under or pursuant to 
        this title--
                  ``(A) carries out any project or activity using such 
                assistance using, as applicable--
                          ``(i) best practices to carry out corrosion 
                        prevention activities in the field;
                          ``(ii) industry-recognized standards and 
                        corrosion mitigation and prevention methods 
                        when--
                                  ``(I) determining protective 
                                coatings;
                                  ``(II) selecting materials; and
                                  ``(III) determining methods of 
                                cathodic protection, design, and 
                                engineering for corrosion prevention;
                          ``(iii) certified coating application 
                        specialists and cathodic protection technicians 
                        and engineers; and
                          ``(iv) best practices in environmental 
                        protection to prevent environmental degradation 
                        and to ensure proper handling of all hazardous 
                        materials; and
                  ``(B) demonstrates, as applicable--
                          ``(i) a history of employing industry-
                        certified inspectors to ensure adherence to 
                        best practices and standards; and
                          ``(ii) a history of compliance with 
                        applicable requirements of the Occupational 
                        Safety and Health Administration.
          ``(3) Corrosion prevention activities defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term `corrosion prevention activities' means--
                  ``(A) the application and inspection of protective 
                coatings for complex work involving steel and 
                cementitious structures, including structures that will 
                be exposed in immersion;
                  ``(B) the installation, testing, and inspection of 
                cathodic protection systems; and
                  ``(C) any other activities related to corrosion 
                prevention the Administrator determines appropriate.''.

SEC. 15. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS.

  Section 603 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1383) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (c)(10), by inserting ``, including 
        measures to identify and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities 
        of such treatment works'' before the semicolon; and
          (2) in subsection (i)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
                        by striking ``, including forgiveness of 
                        principal and negative interest loans'' and 
                        inserting ``(including in the form of 
                        forgiveness of principal, negative interest 
                        loans, or grants)''; and
                          (ii) in subparagraph (A)--
                                  (I) in the matter preceding clause 
                                (i), by striking ``in assistance''; and
                                  (II) in clause (ii)(III), by striking 
                                ``to such ratepayers'' and inserting 
                                ``to help such ratepayers maintain 
                                access to wastewater (including 
                                stormwater) treatment services''; and
                  (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
          ``(3) Subsidization amounts.--
                  ``(A) In general.--A State may use for providing 
                additional subsidization in a fiscal year under this 
                subsection an amount that does not exceed the greater 
                of--
                          ``(i) 50 percent of the total amount received 
                        by the State in capitalization grants under 
                        this title for the fiscal year; or
                          ``(ii) the annual average over the previous 
                        10 fiscal years of the amounts deposited by the 
                        State in the State water pollution control 
                        revolving fund from State moneys that exceed 
                        the amounts required to be so deposited under 
                        section 602(b)(2).
                  ``(B) Minimum.--To the extent there are sufficient 
                applications for additional subsidization under this 
                subsection that meet the criteria under paragraph 
                (1)(A), a State shall use for providing additional 
                subsidization in a fiscal year under this subsection an 
                amount that is not less than 20 percent of the total 
                amount received by the State in capitalization grants 
                under this title for the fiscal year.''.

SEC. 16. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS.

  (a) Formula.--Section 604(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1384(a)) is amended by striking ``each of fiscal years 
1989 and 1990'' and inserting ``each fiscal year''.
  (b) Wastewater Infrastructure Workforce Development.--Section 604 of 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1384) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
  ``(d) Wastewater Infrastructure Workforce Development.--Each fiscal 
year, a State may reserve up to 1 percent of the sums allotted to the 
State under this section for the fiscal year to carry out workforce 
development, training, and retraining activities described in section 
104(g).''.
  (c) Needs Survey.--Section 604 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1384) is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:
  ``(e) Needs Survey.--Each fiscal year, a State may reserve up to 0.5 
percent of the sums allotted to the State under this section for the 
fiscal year to carry out activities under section 516(b)(1)(B).''.
  (d) Funds Allotted to Puerto Rico.--Section 604 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1384) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following:
  ``(f) Funds Allotted to Puerto Rico.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, no funds allotted to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
under this section may be counted as income or an asset of the owner or 
operator of a publicly owned treatment works receiving such funds, or 
be used, set aside, or otherwise made available for the purposes of 
payment of debt restructuring under the Puerto Rico Oversight, 
Management, and Economic Stability Act (48 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) by the 
Puerto Rico Financial Oversight and Management Board.''.

SEC. 17. RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

  Title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1381 
et seq.) is amended by striking section 607 and inserting the 
following:

``SEC. 607. RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

  ``(a) In General.--
          ``(1) Reservation.--For each fiscal year, the Administrator 
        shall reserve 1.5 percent of available funds, as determined 
        under paragraph (2).
          ``(2) Available funds.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the 
        amount of available funds for a fiscal year is--
                  ``(A) the amount of funds made available to carry out 
                this title for the fiscal year (before allotments to 
                the States under section 604(a)); less
                  ``(B) the amount of any funds reserved under section 
                518(c) for the fiscal year.
  ``(b) Use of Funds.--Funds reserved under this section shall be 
available only for grants to American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands for projects and 
activities eligible for assistance under section 603(c).
  ``(c) Limitation.--American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands may not receive funds 
allotted under section 604(a).''.

SEC. 18. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  Title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1381 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 609. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title the 
following sums:
          ``(1) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
          ``(2) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.
          ``(3) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
          ``(4) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
          ``(5) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.''.

SEC. 19. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY MUNICIPAL OMBUDSMAN.

  Section 4(b)(1) of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (42 
U.S.C. 4370j(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
          ``(1) technical and planning assistance to support 
        municipalities, including municipalities that are rural, small, 
        economically disadvantaged, or Tribal communities, in achieving 
        and maintaining compliance with enforceable deadlines, goals, 
        and requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; 
        and''.

SEC. 20. REPORT ON WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING FOR RURAL, 
                    ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

  (a) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
shall initiate a study on the distribution of wastewater infrastructure 
funds to rural communities, economically disadvantaged communities, and 
Tribal communities during the 20 fiscal years preceding the date of 
enactment of this Act.
  (b) Requirements.--In carrying out the study under this section, the 
Administrator shall--
          (1) consult with other Federal agencies, State, local, and 
        Tribal governments, owners and operators of publicly owned 
        treatment works, and stakeholder organizations, including 
        organizations with experience in investigating or addressing 
        the wastewater infrastructure needs of rural communities, 
        economically disadvantaged communities, and Tribal communities;
          (2) undertake at least one public meeting in a rural 
        community, in an economically disadvantaged community, and in a 
        Tribal community, to receive testimony from the public;
          (3) examine whether the distribution of wastewater 
        infrastructure funds during the period covered by the study has 
        been in accordance with any applicable executive order or 
        policy regarding environmental justice;
          (4) examine how wastewater infrastructure funds have been 
        distributed with respect to the identified needs of rural 
        communities, economically disadvantaged communities, and Tribal 
        communities, and whether such funds have addressed the needs of 
        such communities equitably when compared to how such funds have 
        been distributed with respect to the identified needs of 
        communities that are not rural, economically disadvantaged, or 
        Tribal; and
          (5) consider any additional factors that the Administrator 
        determines necessary or appropriate to determine whether rural 
        communities, economically disadvantaged communities, and Tribal 
        communities have equitable access to wastewater infrastructure 
        funds to comply with applicable requirements of the Federal 
        Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
  (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a 
report describing--
          (1) the results of the study carried out under this section; 
        and
          (2) any recommendations to Congress, or to State, local, and 
        Tribal governments, to ensure that rural communities, 
        economically disadvantaged communities, and Tribal communities 
        can equitably access wastewater infrastructure funds in amounts 
        sufficient to address local wastewater infrastructure needs and 
        local water quality challenges.
  (d) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Economically disadvantaged community.--The term 
        ``economically disadvantaged community'' means--
                  (A) a municipality that meets the affordability 
                criteria of a State established under section 603(i)(2) 
                of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
                1383(i)(2));
                  (B) a community with respect to which a municipality 
                can demonstrate that households in the community 
                experience significant economic hardship related to 
                wastewater infrastructure; or
                  (C) a community that is located in an area that meets 
                the criteria described in paragraph (1) or (2) of 
                section 301(a) of the Public Works and Economic 
                Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3161(a)).
          (2) Municipality; treatment works.--The terms 
        ``municipality'' and ``treatment works'' have the meanings 
        given those terms in section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution 
        Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1362).
          (3) Wastewater infrastructure funds.--The term ``wastewater 
        infrastructure funds'' means funds made available for projects 
        or activities under or pursuant to--
                  (A) title VI of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
                Act (33 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.);
                  (B) section 122 of the Federal Water Pollution 
                Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1274);
                  (C) section 220 of the Federal Water Pollution 
                Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1300); and
                  (D) section 221 of the Federal Water Pollution 
                Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1301).

SEC. 21. WATER REUSE INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.

  (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a Water Reuse 
Interagency Working Group to develop and coordinate actions, tools, and 
resources to encourage water reuse across the United States, including 
through the implementation of the National Water Reuse Action Plan, 
consistent with the mission of each Federal agency that is a member of 
the working group.
  (b) Chairperson; Membership.--The working group shall be--
          (1) chaired by the Administrator; and
          (2) comprised of senior representatives from any Federal 
        agency the Administrator determines to be appropriate.
  (c) Duties of the Working Group.--The working group shall--
          (1) annually review the National Water Reuse Action Plan and, 
        as necessary, update such plan;
          (2) encourage the consideration of water reuse as part of 
        integrated water resources management and planning;
          (3) conduct, and submit to Congress and make public, an 
        assessment of opportunities to encourage water reuse and 
        actions necessary to pursue such opportunities;
          (4) seek to coordinate Federal programs and policies to 
        encourage water reuse;
          (5) consider how each Federal agency that is a member of the 
        working group can explore and identify opportunities to 
        encourage water reuse through the programs and activities of 
        each such Federal agency; and
          (6) consult, on a regular basis, with representatives of the 
        water reuse industry, research community, and nongovernmental 
        organizations.
  (d) Report.--Not less frequently than once every 2 years, the 
Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the activities and 
findings of the working group.
  (e) Sunset.--The working group shall terminate on the date that is 6 
years after the date of enactment of this Act.
  (f) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
          (2) National water reuse action plan.--The term ``National 
        Water Reuse Action Plan'' means the document published by the 
        Administrator entitled ``National Water Reuse Action Plan: 
        Collaborative Implementation (Version 1)'', dated February 
        2020, and noticed in the Federal Register on March 3, 2020 (85 
        Fed. Reg. 12552), as updated pursuant to this section.
          (3) Working group.--The term ``working group'' means the 
        Water Reuse Interagency Working Group established under this 
        section.

                         Purpose of Legislation

    The purpose of H.R. 1915, the Water Quality Protection and 
Job Creation Act of 2021, as amended, is to restore and 
maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of 
the nation's waters by reauthorizing federal appropriations for 
capitalization grants to state water pollution control 
revolving funds and other clean water pollution control grant 
programs to address the discharge of pollution into 
jurisdictional waters.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment has 
jurisdiction over water quality and wastewater infrastructure 
programs administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 
more commonly known as the Clean Water Act (or Act).

The Importance of Investment in Wastewater Infrastructure

    To a great extent, improvements in water quality since the 
passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 have resulted from a 
significant investment in municipal wastewater infrastructure 
improvements throughout the nation. According to the 
Congressional Research Service, since 1972, the federal 
government has provided more than $100 billion of financial 
assistance for wastewater infrastructure and other support to 
achieve compliance with the Clean Water Act, which has 
dramatically improved water quality and the health of the 
economy and the environment.\1\ However, according to the 
Congressional Budget Office, federal investment in municipal 
wastewater infrastructure, as a percentage of the total amount 
invested from all public sources (including state and local 
funds) has been declining, and now accounts for less than one-
quarter of the total capital investment in municipal wastewater 
infrastructure.\2\ Today, the nationwide system of municipal 
wastewater infrastructure includes 16,000 publicly owned 
wastewater treatment facilities, 100,000 major pumping 
stations, 600,000 miles of sanitary sewers, and 200,000 miles 
of storm sewers.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\See Ramseur, Jonathan L., ``Funding for EPA Water 
Infrastructure: A Fact Sheet (R43871)'', Congressional Research 
Service, March 2019; and Humphreys, Elena and Ramseur, Jonathan L., 
``U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Infrastructure 
Programs and FY2021 Appropriations (IF11724)'', Congressional Research 
Service, January 2021.
    \2\See ``Public Spending on Transportation and Water 
Infrastructure, 1956 to 2014'', Congressional Budget Office, March 
2015. See also, ``Public Spending on Transportation and Water 
Infrastructure, 1956 to 2017,'' Congressional Budget Office, October 
2018.
    \3\U.S. EPA., ``Primer for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Systems'' 
(EPA-832-R-04-001), September 2004.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Investment in wastewater infrastructure has provided 
significant environmental, public health, and economic benefits 
to the nation. First, through the federal construction grants 
program (Title II of the Act), and now the Clean Water State 
Revolving Fund (Clean Water SRF) program (Title VI of the Act), 
the investment in wastewater infrastructure has been integral 
to improving the quality of the nation's waters. The 
improvements to water quality realized through federal, state, 
and local investment in municipal wastewater infrastructure 
have been significant, helping to increase the number of 
fishable and swimmable waters throughout the nation.
    As a result of the dramatic improvements in municipal 
wastewater infrastructure, waste loadings in municipal effluent 
discharges have decreased by one-half since the 1970s, despite 
the fact that the amount of generated municipal wastewaters 
grew by more than one-third during the same time period due to 
population growth and an expanded economy. The nation's 
farmers, fishermen, manufacturers, and recreational industries 
rely on clean water. The outdoor recreation economy alone 
generates $887 billion annually.\4\ Further, people spend 
approximately $70 billion per year on recreational boating and 
fishing.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ Outdoor Industry Association. (2017). The Outdoor Recreation 
Economy. Retrieved from https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/
2017/04/OIA_RecEconomy_FINAL_Single.pdf.
    \5\U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). The Importance of 
Water to the U.S. Economy, Part I: Background Report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clean Water Infrastructure Needs

    America's wastewater infrastructure needs further financial 
investment. According to the American Society of Civil 
Engineers 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, America's wastewater 
treatment infrastructure receives a grade of D+, and its 
stormwater infrastructure receives a grade of D.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\See 2021 Infrastructure Report Card ASCE. Retrieved from https:/
/infrastructurereportcard.org/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    According to EPA's most recent clean water needs survey, 
communities have documented at least $271 billion of investment 
needed over the next 20 years to bring their systems to a state 
of good repair; yet, as this assessment is almost a decade old, 
the current need may be higher.\7\ Given the current level of 
federal investment to address these needs, states and cities 
are covering more than 95 percent of the total cost of water 
infrastructure (including capital and operations and 
maintenance costs).\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). Clean Watersheds 
Needs Survey 2012. Report to Congress. (EPA-830-R-15005). Retrieved 
from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-12/documents/
cwns_2012_report_to_congress-508-opt.pdf.
    \8\Kane, Joseph W. (2016). Investing in Water: Comparing Utility 
Finances and Economic Concerns across U.S. Cities. Retrieved from 
https://www.brookings.edu/research/investing-in-water-comparing-
utility-finances-and-economic-concerns-across-u-s-cities/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition, according to the Indian Health Service, 
Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction, the documented 
backlog of sanitation infrastructure deficiencies, including 
wastewater infrastructure, for tribal communities is 
approximately $2.5 billion.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\Indian Health Service, Office of Environmental Health and 
Engineering, Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction. Annual 
Report to the Congress of the United States on Sanitation Deficiency 
Levels for Indian Homes and Communities Fiscal Year 2018. Retrieved 
from https://www.ihs.gov/sites/newsroom/themes/responsive2017/
display_objects/documents/
Report_To_Congress_FY18_SanitationFacilitiesDeficiencies.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    These statistics indicate a need for increased investment 
in our nation's water infrastructure at all levels of 
government and the benefits are numerous. Investing in clean 
water creates thousands of domestic jobs in the construction 
industry and reduces the overall costs of operating and 
maintaining that infrastructure. According to the National 
Utility Contractors Association, every $1 billion invested in 
our nation's water infrastructure can create or sustain nearly 
28,000 jobs in communities across America, while improving 
public health and the environment at the same time.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\See Testimony Submitted for the Record by the National Utility 
Contractors Association (NUCA), hearing on ``Building Back Better: The 
Urgent Need for Infrastructure Investment in America's Wastewater 
Infrastructure'', February 23, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The economic and job creation benefits of increased federal 
investment in wastewater infrastructure were also highlighted 
in testimony before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and 
Environment, including the testimony of Mr. David Mallino, 
Legislative Director of the Laborers' International Union of 
North America, who noted that:

          Wastewater infrastructure improvements also support 
        healthy economies. Construction projects create good-
        paying jobs, and, where new facilities are built, 
        workers are needed to operate and maintain them. 
        Upgraded infrastructure results in cleaner water, which 
        is essential for many businesses and sectors of the 
        economy.\11\

    \11\See Testimony of the Mr. David Mallino, Legislative Director, 
Laborers' International Union of North America, before the Subcommittee 
on Water Resources and Environment, hearing on ``Building Back Better: 
The Urgent Need for Infrastructure Investment in America's Wastewater 
Infrastructure'', February 23, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Similarly, as noted in the testimony of Tom Teske, Vice 
President and General Manager of EJ Americas, existing Clean 
Water Act provisions,\12\ which maximize the use of American-
made iron and steel, ensure that federal investments promote 
job creation and preservation in the United States.\13\ In 
addition, water infrastructure helps prevent contamination of 
our nation's waters that are relied upon by the recreational 
industry. Fishing and water sports generate more than 1.52 
million jobs.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \12\See 33 U.S.C. 1388.
    \13\See Testimony of the Mr. Tom Teske, Vice President and General 
Manager, EJ Americas, before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and 
Environment, hearing on ``Building Back Better: The Urgent Need for 
Infrastructure Investment in America's Wastewater Infrastructure'', 
February 23, 2021.
    \14\Outdoor Industry Association. (2017). The Outdoor Recreation 
Economy. Retrieved from https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/
2017/04/OIA_RecEconomy_FINAL_Single.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clean Water Act Affordability

    Communities and governments at all levels face growing 
challenges in effectively managing the water resources 
necessary to support growing and shifting populations, thriving 
residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors, 
and healthy and productive natural environments. Many local 
governments also face complex affordability challenges--with 
some communities facing shrinking rate bases, while others with 
growing populations having increasing segments of their rate 
base that are unable to afford the rising costs of clean water 
thereby disproportionately impacting the poorest economic 
segments of many communities. Nationwide, wastewater utilities 
and municipalities of all sizes are seeking to provide clean, 
safe, accessible, and affordable water, along with addressing 
other challenges, such as responding to effects of extreme 
weather events, water quantity, and emerging water quality 
issues.
    In 2017, the National Academy of Public Administration 
(NAPA) issued a report that examined the challenges local 
communities face in providing clean, safe, and affordable water 
and wastewater services.\15\ This report concluded that the 
governmental responsibility to assure clean water that is also 
affordable to both communities and individuals has become an 
increasing challenge.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \15\Panel of the National Academy of Public Administrators for the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2017). Developing a New 
Framework for Community Affordability of Clean Water Services. Academy 
Project Number: 2210. Retrieved from https://www.napawash.org/uploads/
Academy_Studies/NAPA_EPA_FINAL_REPORT_110117.pdf.
    \16\Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Among other things, the report recognized that water 
infrastructure in the United States is aging, thereby imposing 
additional costs on communities to both upgrade and maintain 
deteriorating infrastructure from deferred maintenance.\17\ In 
addition, the report recognized the costs to communities to 
come into compliance with the Clean Water Act as an additional 
factor and highlighted the importance of more cost-effective 
and innovative solutions, such as increased use of green-
infrastructure approaches, stormwater recapture and reuse, and 
integrated planning, to address these challenges.\18\ Further, 
the report highlighted how affordability is an especially 
critical issue for low-income customers throughout the United 
States, noting that, while average annual expenditures for 
water are generally low relative to other utilities, they 
represent a higher share of income for those who earn the 
lowest 20 percent of income.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \17\Id.
    \18\Id.
    \19\Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    This concern over wastewater infrastructure affordability 
was echoed in testimony before the Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment through oversight hearings during the 
development of H.R. 1915.
    For example, the Honorable Dave Berger, Mayor of Lima, Ohio 
(testifying on behalf of the United States Conference of 
Mayors), called on Congress to ``raise existing federal funding 
commitments substantially, particularly in the form of grant 
funding, to support the modernization and expansion of our 
Nation's drinking water, wastewater treatment, stormwater, and 
flood protection systems.''\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \20\See Testimony of the Honorable Dave Berger, Mayor of Lima, on 
behalf of the United States Conference of Mayors, before the 
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, hearing on ``Building 
Back Better: The Urgent Need for Infrastructure Investment in America's 
Wastewater Infrastructure'', February 23, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Similarly, the testimony of Mr. Oluwole McFoy, the General 
Manager of the Buffalo Sewer Authority (testifying on behalf of 
the National Association of Clean Water Agencies) highlighted 
how Buffalo's wastewater infrastructure has been deteriorating 
over time, ``. . . with the work being done on it relegated to 
mostly maintenance, repairs, and necessary replacements. This 
has proven to be an unsustainable approach. The costs of this 
work are being borne by a segment of rate payers who cannot 
afford to pay it while at the same time the funding required 
for even this bare minimum approach is still growing, creating 
a situation where rate payers are being forced to pay more for 
less relative service.''\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \21\See Testimony of the Mr. Oluwole McFoy, General Manager of the 
Buffalo Sewer Authority, on behalf of the National Association of Clean 
Water Agencies, before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and 
Environment, hearing on ``Building Back Better: The Urgent Need for 
Infrastructure Investment in America's Wastewater Infrastructure'', 
February 23, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition, Ms. Brenda Coley, the Co-Director of the 
Milwaukee Water Commons, highlighted the financial challenges 
facing many American communities, especially those facing 
economic hardships in financing wastewater infrastructure 
investments. In her testimony, Ms. Coley noted:

          Because the vast majority of [Clean Water SRF] funds 
        are provided to local communities as loans rather than 
        grants, local water ratepayers ultimately bear the 
        burden of repaying these loans. Raising rates to levels 
        required to repay all of the funds necessary to address 
        existing water infrastructure needs would render water 
        rates unaffordable. Reluctant to raise water rates and 
        without other funding options, utilities instead 
        postpone making urgent water infrastructure repairs and 
        upgrades . . . . however, continued failure to repair 
        and enhance failing and outdated water infrastructure 
        strains the public health of our communities as well as 
        the environmental health of our waterways and 
        ultimately leads to compounding problems resulting in 
        even greater expense. This is particularly true for 
        vulnerable communities that typically face the most 
        urgent infrastructure needs but have the least ability 
        to bear their cost.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \22\See Testimony of the Ms. Brenda Coley, Co-Director of the 
Milwaukee Water Commons, before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and 
Environment, hearing on ``Building Back Better: The Urgent Need for 
Infrastructure Investment in America's Wastewater Infrastructure'', 
February 23, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure

    The magnitude of the nation's wastewater infrastructure 
needs also presents a major opportunity to upgrade, modernize, 
and increase the efficiency and sustainability of wastewater 
infrastructure, including the efficiency of the water- and 
energy-related components of wastewater treatment, the benefits 
of alternative approaches to traditional wastewater treatment 
technologies (e.g., natural, nature-based, and green 
infrastructure alternatives), and measures to increase the 
resiliency of our infrastructure to the observed impacts of 
climate change, such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, 
and drought.
    In April 2021, the Subcommittee on Water Resources and 
Environment held a hearing, titled, ``Sustainable Wastewater 
Infrastructure: Measures to Promote Resiliency and Climate 
Adaptation and Mitigation.'' That hearing highlighted 
information on the policies and practices to encourage greater 
resiliency and sustainability of wastewater utilities in 
meeting the requirements of the Clean Water Act.
            Water and Energy Efficiency
    Energy use can account for as much as 10 percent of a local 
government's annual operating budget.\23\ A significant amount 
of this municipal energy use occurs at water and wastewater 
treatment facilities. With pumps, motors, and other equipment 
operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, water and 
wastewater facilities can be among the largest consumers of 
energy in a community--and thus among the largest contributors 
to the community's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \23\See U.S. EPA, ``Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater 
Facilities: A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas 
Reduction Programs''' (2013).
    \24\See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Nationally, the energy used by water and wastewater 
utilities accounts for 35 percent of typical U.S. municipal 
energy budgets.\25\ Electricity use accounts for 25 to 40 
percent of the operating budgets for wastewater utilities and 
approximately 80 percent of drinking water processing and 
distribution costs.\26\ Drinking water and wastewater systems 
account for approximately three to four percent of overall 
energy use in the United States, equivalent to approximately 56 
billion kilowatts and a cost of $4 billion, and resulting in 
the emissions of more than 45 million tons of GHGs 
annually.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \25\See id.
    \26\See id.
    \27\See id. See also, https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-
infrastructure/water-and-energy-efficiency-utilities-and-home.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    According to the EPA, utilities can reduce the economic 
costs and environmental impacts of wastewater treatment by 
improving the energy efficiency of wastewater facilities' 
equipment and operations, by promoting the efficient use of 
water, and by capturing the energy in wastewater to generate 
electricity and heat.\28\ Improvements in energy efficiency 
allow the same work to be done with less energy and cost. The 
EPA estimates that, by incorporating energy efficiency 
practices into their water and wastewater plants, 
municipalities and utilities can save 15 to 30 percent on their 
operating costs, saving thousands of dollars with payback 
periods (or the amount of time required to pay back the cost of 
the upgrade through potential cost savings resulting from the 
upgrade) of only a few months to a few years.\29\ Improvements 
in water use efficiency reduce demand for water, which in turn 
reduces the amount of energy required to treat and distribute 
water.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \28\See id. See also, https://www.energy.gov/eere/slsc/wastewater-
infrastructure, which notes that, according to the U.S. Department of 
Energy, wastewater contains about five times more energy than is needed 
for its treatment in terms of untapped thermal energy, which can be 
captured and used to generate energy.
    \29\https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/energy-
efficiency-water-utilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Water and wastewater facilities around the country are also 
adopting renewable energy technologies, including combined heat 
and power, sludge digester methane use, solar panels 
installation, and wind turbines. Capturing the energy in 
wastewater by burning biogas from anaerobic digesters in a 
combined heat and power system allows wastewater facilities to 
produce some or all of their own electricity and space heating, 
potentially turning them into ``net zero'' consumers of energy.
    Over the last four years, the Subcommittee has received 
testimony from several witnesses highlighting the potential of 
waste-energy recapture projects for increasing sustainability, 
reducing utility costs, and reducing GHG emissions. For 
example, in 2019, the Subcommittee heard testimony how the 
Camden County (New Jersey) Municipal Utilities Authority 
installed technology for generating all of the utility's 
electricity from the biosolids produced during sewage 
treatment, which allowed the Utility Authority to take its 
``treatment plant off the grid and then [build] a microgrid to 
protect the drinking water plant, hospitals, fire, school, and 
police, all through the [Clean Water] State Revolving Fund 
without raising rates.''\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \30\See Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, hearing on 
``The Clean Water State Revolving Fund: How Federal Infrastructure 
Investment Can Help Communities Modernize Water Infrastructure and 
Address Affordability Challenges'', March 7, 2019, accessed at https://
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-116hhrg35383/pdf/CHRG-
116hhrg35383.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Similarly, the Subcommittee received testimony from Ms. 
Kisha Powell, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice 
President of DC Water, who described how the utility's Blue 
Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant was the first 
project in North America to use thermal hydrolysis--a sewage 
digestion/combined heat and power technology--and that the 
clean, green renewable energy created by this technology is 
enough to power one-third of the plant's energy needs while 
reducing the facility's carbon footprint by roughly one-
third.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \31\See Testimony of Ms. Kisha Powell, Chief Operating Officer and 
Executive Vice President, DC Water, before the Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment, hearing on ``Sustainable Wastewater 
Infrastructure: Measures to Promote Resiliency and Climate Adaptation 
and Mitigation,'' April 21, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Finally, the Subcommittee also received testimony from Mr. 
Robert Ferrante, Chief Engineer and General Manager of the Los 
Angeles County Sanitation Districts, who testified on a 
demonstration project underway at the Sanitation Districts to 
convert food wastes generated in Los Angeles County into 
energy.\32\ According to Mr. Ferrante's testimony, the food 
waste is converted to biogas which is used to run its treatment 
plant, making the utility virtually self-sufficient, as well as 
further refined into a renewable natural gas alternative that 
is sold to the public to fuel cars, buses, and trucks.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \32\See Testimony of Mr. Robert Ferrante, Chief Engineer and 
General Manager of the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, before 
the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, hearing on 
``Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure: Measures to Promote Resiliency 
and Climate Adaptation and Mitigation,'' April 21, 2021.
    \33\See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Green Infrastructure Alternatives
    EPA has also highlighted the importance of selecting the 
right solution to meet an identified wastewater need in its 
``Path to Sustainable Water Infrastructure,'' including the 
importance of evaluating different alternatives, such as new, 
smart technologies, an evaluation of centralized versus 
decentralized wastewater treatment systems, and the utilization 
of green infrastructure approaches to local water quality 
challenges.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \34\See https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/
building-sustainable-water-infrastructure; see also https://
www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/policy-water-
infrastructure-sustainability.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Section 502 of the Clean Water Act defines green 
infrastructure as ``. . . the range of measures that use plant 
or soil systems, permeable pavement or other permeable surfaces 
or substrates, stormwater harvest and reuse, or landscaping to 
store, infiltrate, or evapotranspirate stormwater and reduce 
flows to sewer systems or to surface waters.''\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \35\See 33 U.S.C. 1362(27).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    According to the EPA, green infrastructure can frequently 
provide ``a cost-effective, resilient approach to managing wet 
weather impacts that provides many community benefits.''\36\ 
``While single-purpose gray stormwater infrastructure--
conventional piped drainage and water treatment systems--is 
designed to move urban stormwater away from the built 
environment, green infrastructure''--such as downspout 
disconnections, green roofs, bioswales, and green streets--
``reduces and treats stormwater at its source while delivering 
environmental, social, and economic benefits.''\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \36\See https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/what-green-
infrastructure.
    \37\See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Stormwater runoff is a major cause of water pollution in 
urban areas.\38\ When rain falls on roofs, streets, and parking 
lots in cities and their suburbs, the water cannot soak into 
the ground. Stormwater drains through gutters, storm sewers, 
and other engineered collection systems and is discharged into 
nearby water bodies. The stormwater runoff carries trash, 
bacteria, heavy metals, and other pollutants from the urban 
landscape. Higher flows resulting from heavy rains also can 
cause erosion and flooding in urban streams, damaging habitat, 
property, and infrastructure.\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \38\See id.
    \39\See id. See also https://www.nrdc.org/stories/green-
infrastructure-how-manage-water-sustainable-way.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Green infrastructure is designed to use vegetation, soils, 
and other elements and practices to restore some of the natural 
processes required to manage water and create healthier urban 
environments.\40\ At the city or county scale, green 
infrastructure is a patchwork of natural areas that provides 
habitat, flood protection, cleaner air, and cleaner water. At 
the neighborhood or site scale, stormwater management systems 
that mimic natural systems can soak up and store water.\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \40\See id.
    \41\See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    According to testimony from Rebecca Hammer, Deputy Director 
of Federal Water Policy for the Natural Resources Defense 
Council, green infrastructure can also be a ``powerful tool for 
addressing climate change''--noting that its use not only 
``helps communities adapt to the impacts of climate change by 
reducing flooding, augmenting groundwater supplies, and cooling 
the air, but green infrastructure also provides climate 
mitigation benefits by storing carbon and reducing energy 
demand.''\42\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \42\See Testimony of Mr. Rebecca Hammer, Deputy Director of Federal 
Water Policy, Natural Resources Defense Council, before the 
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, hearing on 
``Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure: Measures to Promote Resiliency 
and Climate Adaptation and Mitigation,'' April 21, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Alternative Water Sources and Water Recycling
    According to the EPA, water reuse (also commonly known as 
water recycling or water reclamation) reclaims water from a 
variety of sources then treats and reuses it for beneficial 
purposes such as agriculture and irrigation, potable water 
supplies, groundwater replenishment, industrial processes, and 
environmental restoration.\43\ Water reuse can provide 
alternatives to existing water supplies and be used to enhance 
water security, sustainability, and resilience, especially in 
areas facing potable water shortages or repeated drought.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \43\See, generally, https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/basic-
information-about-water-reuse#basics.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Sources of water for potential reuse can include municipal 
wastewater, industry process and cooling water, stormwater, and 
agriculture runoff and return flows. These sources of water are 
adequately treated to meet ``fit-for-purpose specifications'' 
for a particular next use.\44\ ``Fit-for-purpose 
specifications'' are the treatment requirements to bring water 
from a particular source to the quality needed, to ensure 
public health, environmental protection, or specific user 
needs. For example, reclaimed water for crop irrigation would 
need to be of sufficient quality to prevent harm to plants and 
soils, maintain food safety, and protect the health of farm 
workers. In uses where there is a greater human exposure, water 
may require more treatment.\45\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \44\44 See id.
    \45\45 See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Subcommittee received testimony on the potential 
benefits of reclaimed water and on how increased federal 
investment can help augment safe, reliable, and affordable 
water supplies for local communities. For example, Mr. 
Ferrante's testimony highlighted how the Los Angeles County 
Sanitation Districts are currently investing in and developing 
new wastewater recycling and groundwater recharge projects to 
address the water supply needs of the Los Angeles Metropolitan 
region.\46\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \46\See Testimony of Mr. Robert Ferrante, Chief Engineer and 
General Manager of the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, before 
the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, hearing on 
``Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure: Measures to Promote Resiliency 
and Climate Adaptation and Mitigation,'' April 21, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal clean water investment: Clean Water State Revolving Fund

    For more than 70 years, Congress has provided federal funds 
to municipalities to address local water quality challenges, 
including sewage treatment needs. Initially, this assistance 
was provided as loans to states, municipalities, or interstate 
agencies for the construction of necessary treatment works to 
prevent the discharge by such state or municipality of 
untreated or inadequately treated sewage or other waste into 
interstate waters. (Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 
1948, P.L. 80-845, 62 Stat. 1155.) In later amendments to the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Congress provided direct 
grants to municipalities.
    In the 1972 Amendments to the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act, such grants covered 55 to 75 percent of the total 
costs of the projects. Then, in 1987, Congress converted the 
direct grant program to the current Clean Water SRF authority 
that provides capitalization grant funding directly to states 
to capitalize the states' Clean Water SRFs (P.L. 100-4). These 
SRFs, in-turn, provide below-market rate loans to communities 
to finance local wastewater infrastructure needs (required to 
be fully-repaid over a 30-year term).
    The authorization of appropriations for the Clean Water SRF 
expired after 1994. Yet, Congress has continued to fund, 
through annual appropriations legislation, the Clean Water SRF 
program because it provides a critical investment in the 
nation's wastewater infrastructure. Congressional 
appropriations have provided more than $45 billion in federal 
capitalization assistance to states since 1987.\47\ Congress 
provided an appropriation of $1.638 billion for the Clean Water 
SRF in the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill (P. L. 116-260, 
Division G, Title II). In turn, this infusion of federal 
capital to state revolving funds has leveraged over $138 
billion in direct assistance to communities over this 
period.\48\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \47\U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Water State 
Revolving Fund (CWSRF), https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf.
    \48\See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In 2014, Congress enacted amendments to the Clean Water Act 
which authorized states that provide assistance to communities 
under the Clean Water SRF program to provide additional 
subsidization, including forgiveness of principal and negative 
interest loans to benefit a municipality that meets the 
affordability criteria of the state; or that seeks additional 
subsidization to benefit individual ratepayers in the 
municipality's residential user rate class that will experience 
a significant hardship from the increase in rates necessary to 
finance the project or activity for which assistance is 
sought.\49\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \49\See Pub. L. 113-121, Title V, Subtitle A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition, in recent years, the annual appropriations 
bills for the EPA have included provisions to require states to 
use a portion of Clean Water SRF funding to provide communities 
with ``additional subsidy to eligible recipients in the form of 
forgiveness of principal, negative interest loans, or grants,'' 
as well as to reserve an additional portion of Clean Water SRF 
funding for ``projects to address green infrastructure, water 
or energy efficiency improvements, or other environmentally 
innovative activities.''\50\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \50\ See e.g., Pub. L. 116-260, Division G.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition, the annual appropriations bills for the EPA 
have included funds from the Clean Water SRF for projects, 
training, technical assistance, or education for Indian tribes, 
reservations, and native villages, and Clean Water SRF funding 
for the U.S. Territories.\51\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \51\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                Hearings

    For the purposes of rule XIII, clause 3(c)(6)(A) of the 
117th Congress, the following hearings were used to develop or 
consider H.R. 1915, as amended:
    On February 23, 2021, the Subcommittee held a hearing 
titled ``Building Back Better: The Urgent Need for Investment 
in America's Wastewater Infrastructure.'' The Subcommittee 
received testimony from Hon. David J. Berger, Mayor, City of 
Limo, Ohio, testifying on behalf of the U.S. Conference of 
Mayors; Hon. Bill Sterud, Chairman, Puyallup Tribal Council, 
Tacoma, Washington; Mr. Oluwole ``OJ'' A. McFoy, General 
Manager, Buffalo Sewer Authority, testifying on behalf of the 
National Association of Clean Water Agencies; Mr. Thomas M. 
Teske, Vice President and General Manager, EJ Americas; Ms. 
Brenda Coley, Co-Executive Director, Milwaukee Water Commons; 
and Mr. David Mallino, Legislative Director, Laborers 
International Union of North America. This hearing examined the 
current state of our clean water systems and received testimony 
on the backlog of clean water infrastructure needs, current and 
future challenges, and the infrastructure affordability 
challenges facing communities and American households.
    On April 21, 2021, the Subcommittee held a hearing titled 
``Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure: Measures to Promote 
Resiliency and Climate Adaptation and Mitigation.'' The 
Subcommittee received testimony from Mr. Howard M. Neukrug, 
Executive Director, the Water Center, University of 
Pennsylvania; Ms. Kisha L. Powell, Chief Operating Officer and 
Executive Vice President, D.C. Water; Mr. Robert C. Ferrante, 
Chief Engineer and General Manager, Los Angeles County 
Sanitation Districts; Mr. Kevin Robert Perry, Principal, Urban 
Rain Design, testifying on behalf of The American Society of 
Landscape Architects; Mr. Kim H. Colson, Director, Division of 
Water Infrastructure, Department of Environmental Quality, 
State of North Carolina, testifying on behalf of the Council of 
Infrastructure Financing Authorities; and Ms. Rebecca Hammer, 
Deputy Director, Federal Water Policy, Natural Resources 
Defense Council. This hearing provided Members with information 
on policies and practices to encourage greater resiliency and 
sustainability of wastewater utilities in meeting the 
requirements of the Clean Water Act.

                 Legislative History and Consideration

    H.R. 1915 was introduced in the House on March 16, 2021, by 
Mr. DeFazio, Mrs. Napolitano, and Mr. Fitzpatrick and referred 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Within 
the Committee, H.R. 1915 was referred to the Subcommittee on 
Water Resources and Environment.
    The Chair discharged the Subcommittee on Water Resources 
and Environment from further consideration of H.R. 1915 on June 
9, 2021.
    The Committee considered H.R. 1915 on June 9, 2021, and 
ordered the measure, as amended, to be reported to the House 
with a favorable recommendation, by a record vote of 42 yeas 
and 25 nays (Roll Call Vote No. 22).
    The following amendments were offered:
    An Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute offered by Ms. 
Bourdeaux (#1); was AGREED TO, as amended, by voice vote.
    A manager's amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a 
Substitute (#1A) offered by Ms. Bourdeaux; was AGREED TO by 
voice vote.
    An amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute 
offered by Mr. Graves of Louisiana (#1B); was WITHDRAWN.
    At the appropriate place, insert a new section entitled 
``Sec. __. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 
(NPDES) Terms.''
    A Substitute Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute 
offered by Mr. Rouzer (#2); was NOT AGREED TO by a record vote 
of 26 yeas and 39 nays (Roll Call Vote No. 20).
    A Substitute Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute 
offered by Mr. Westerman (#3); was NOT AGREED TO by a record 
vote of 27 yeas and 39 nays (Roll Call Vote No. 21).
    An amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute 
offered by Mr. Graves of Louisiana (#1C); was NOT AGREED TO by 
voice vote.
    Page 7, strike lines 5 through line 9 and insert a new 
subsection entitled ``(d) Assistance.''
    An amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute 
offered by Mr. Graves of Louisiana (#1D); was NOT AGREED TO by 
voice vote.
    Page 10, strike lines 12 through 18 and insert a new 
subsection entitled ``(e) Definitions.''

                            Committee Votes

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires each committee report to include the 
total number of votes cast for and against on each record vote 
on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the 
measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for 
and against.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Roll Call Vote No. 20

    On: Agreeing to Amendment #2 offered by Mr. Rouzer
    Not Agreed to: 26 yeas and 39 nays.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Majority Members                      Vote               Minority Members               Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Defazio, Chair..............................          Nay   Mr. Graves of MO, Ranking Member..          Yea
Ms. Norton......................................          Nay   Mr. Young.........................  ............
Ms. Johnson of TX...............................          Nay   Mr. Crawford......................          Yea
Mr. Larsen of WA................................          Nay   Mr. Gibbs.........................          Yea
Mrs. Napolitano.................................          Nay   Mr. Webster.......................          Yea
Mr. Cohen.......................................          Nay   Mr. Massie........................          Yea
Mr. Sires.......................................          Nay   Mr. Perry.........................          Yea
Mr. Garamendi...................................          Nay   Mr. Rodney Davis of IL............          Yea
Mr. Johnson of GA...............................          Nay   Mr. Katko.........................          Nay
Mr. Carson......................................          Nay   Mr. Babin.........................          Yea
Ms. Titus.......................................          Nay   Mr. Graves of LA..................          Yea
Mr. Maloney of NY...............................          Nay   Mr. Rouzer........................          Yea
Mr. Huffman.....................................          Nay   Mr. Bost..........................          Yea
Ms. Brownley....................................          Nay   Mr. Weber of TX...................          Yea
Ms. Wilson of FL................................          Nay   Mr. LaMalfa.......................          Yea
Mr. Payne.......................................          Nay   Mr. Westerman.....................          Yea
Mr. Lowenthal...................................          Nay   Mr. Mast..........................          Yea
Mr. DeSaulnier..................................          Nay   Mr. Gallagher.....................  ............
Mr. Lynch.......................................  ............  Mr. Fitzpatrick...................          Nay
Mr. Carbajal....................................          Nay   Miss Gonzalez-Colon...............          Yea
Mr. Brown.......................................          Nay   Mr. Balderson.....................          Yea
Mr. Malinowski..................................          Nay   Mr. Stauber.......................          Yea
Mr. Stanton.....................................          Nay   Mr. Burchett......................          Yea
Mr. Allred......................................          Nay   Mr. Johnson of SD.................          Yea
Ms. Davids of KS................................          Nay   Mr. Van Drew......................          Nay
Mr. Garcia of IL................................          Nay   Mr. Guest.........................          Yea
Mr. Delgado.....................................          Nay   Mr. Nehls.........................          Yea
Mr. Pappas......................................          Nay   Ms. Mace..........................          Yea
Mr. Lamb........................................          Nay   Ms. Malliotakis...................          Yea
Mr. Moulton.....................................          Nay   Ms. Van Duyne.....................          Yea
Mr. Auchincloss.................................          Nay   Mr. Gimenez.......................          Yea
Ms. Bourdeaux...................................          Nay   Mrs. Steel........................  ............
Mr. Kahele......................................          Nay
Ms. Strickland..................................          Nay
Ms. Williams of GA..............................          Nay
Ms. Newman......................................          Nay
Mr. Carter......................................          Nay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Roll Call Vote No. 21

    On: Agreeing to Amendment #3 offered by Mr. Westerman
    Not Agreed to: 27 yeas and 39 nays.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Majority Members                      Vote               Minority Members               Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Defazio, Chair..............................          Nay   Mr. Graves of MO, Ranking Member..          Yea
Ms. Norton......................................          Nay   Mr. Young.........................  ............
Ms. Johnson of TX...............................          Nay   Mr. Crawford......................          Yea
Mr. Larsen of WA................................          Nay   Mr. Gibbs.........................          Yea
Mrs. Napolitano.................................          Nay   Mr. Webster.......................          Yea
Mr. Cohen.......................................          Nay   Mr. Massie........................          Yea
Mr. Sires.......................................          Nay   Mr. Perry.........................          Yea
Mr. Garamendi...................................          Nay   Mr. Rodney Davis of IL............          Yea
Mr. Johnson of GA...............................          Nay   Mr. Katko.........................          Nay
Mr. Carson......................................          Nay   Mr. Babin.........................          Yea
Ms. Titus.......................................          Nay   Mr. Graves of LA..................          Yea
Mr. Maloney of NY...............................          Nay   Mr. Rouzer........................          Yea
Mr. Huffman.....................................          Nay   Mr. Bost..........................          Yea
Ms. Brownley....................................          Nay   Mr. Weber of TX...................          Yea
Ms. Wilson of FL................................          Nay   Mr. LaMalfa.......................          Yea
Mr. Payne.......................................          Nay   Mr. Westerman.....................          Yea
Mr. Lowenthal...................................          Nay   Mr. Mast..........................          Yea
Mr. DeSaulnier..................................          Nay   Mr. Gallagher.....................  ............
Mr. Lynch.......................................  ............  Mr. Fitzpatrick...................          Nay
Mr. Carbajal....................................          Nay   Miss Gonzalez-Colon...............          Yea
Mr. Brown.......................................          Nay   Mr. Balderson.....................          Yea
Mr. Malinowski..................................          Nay   Mr. Stauber.......................          Yea
Mr. Stanton.....................................          Nay   Mr. Burchett......................          Yea
Mr. Allred......................................          Nay   Mr. Johnson of SD.................          Yea
Ms. Davids of KS................................          Nay   Mr. Van Drew......................          Nay
Mr. Garcia of IL................................          Nay   Mr. Guest.........................          Yea
Mr. Delgado.....................................          Nay   Mr. Nehls.........................          Yea
Mr. Pappas......................................          Nay   Ms. Mace..........................          Yea
Mr. Lamb........................................          Nay   Ms. Malliotakis...................          Yea
Mr. Moulton.....................................          Nay   Ms. Van Duyne.....................          Yea
Mr. Auchincloss.................................          Nay   Mr. Gimenez.......................          Yea
Ms. Bourdeaux...................................          Nay   Mrs. Steel........................          Yea
Mr. Kahele......................................          Nay
Ms. Strickland..................................          Nay
Ms. Williams of GA..............................          Nay
Ms. Newman......................................          Nay
Mr. Carter......................................          Nay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Roll Call Vote No. 22

    On: Ordering H.R. 1915 to be reported the House, favorably, 
as amended.
    Agreed to: 42 yeas and 25 nays.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Majority Members                      Vote               Minority Members               Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Defazio, Chair..............................          Yea   Mr. Graves of MO, Ranking Member..          Nay
Ms. Norton......................................          Yea   Mr. Young.........................  ............
Ms. Johnson of TX...............................          Yea   Mr. Crawford......................          Nay
Mr. Larsen of WA................................          Yea   Mr. Gibbs.........................          Nay
Mrs. Napolitano.................................          Yea   Mr. Webster.......................          Nay
Mr. Cohen.......................................          Yea   Mr. Massie........................          Nay
Mr. Sires.......................................          Yea   Mr. Perry.........................          Nay
Mr. Garamendi...................................          Yea   Mr. Rodney Davis of IL............          Nay
Mr. Johnson of GA...............................          Yea   Mr. Katko.........................          Yea
Mr. Carson......................................          Yea   Mr. Babin.........................          Nay
Ms. Titus.......................................          Yea   Mr. Graves of LA..................          Nay
Mr. Maloney of NY...............................          Yea   Mr. Rouzer........................          Nay
Mr. Huffman.....................................          Yea   Mr. Bost..........................          Nay
Ms. Brownley....................................          Yea   Mr. Weber of TX...................          Nay
Ms. Wilson of FL................................          Yea   Mr. LaMalfa.......................          Nay
Mr. Payne.......................................          Yea   Mr. Westerman.....................          Nay
Mr. Lowenthal...................................          Yea   Mr. Mast..........................          Nay
Mr. DeSaulnier..................................          Yea   Mr. Gallagher.....................  ............
Mr. Lynch.......................................          Yea   Mr. Fitzpatrick...................          Yea
Mr. Carbajal....................................          Yea   Miss Gonzalez-Colon...............          Yea
Mr. Brown.......................................          Yea   Mr. Balderson.....................          Nay
Mr. Malinowski..................................          Yea   Mr. Stauber.......................          Nay
Mr. Stanton.....................................          Yea   Mr. Burchett......................          Nay
Mr. Allred......................................          Yea   Mr. Johnson of SD.................          Nay
Ms. Davids of KS................................          Yea   Mr. Van Drew......................          Yea
Mr. Garcia of IL................................          Yea   Mr. Guest.........................          Nay
Mr. Delgado.....................................          Yea   Mr. Nehls.........................          Nay
Mr. Pappas......................................          Yea   Ms. Mace..........................          Nay
Mr. Lamb........................................          Yea   Ms. Malliotakis...................          Yea
Mr. Moulton.....................................          Yea   Ms. Van Duyne.....................          Nay
Mr. Auchincloss.................................          Yea   Mr. Gimenez.......................          Nay
Ms. Bourdeaux...................................          Yea   Mrs. Steel........................          Nay
Mr. Kahele......................................          Yea
Ms. Strickland..................................          Yea
Ms. Williams of GA..............................          Yea
Ms. Newman......................................          Yea
Mr. Carter......................................          Yea
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

               New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect 
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested 
but not received a cost estimate for this bill from the 
Director of Congressional Budget Office. The Committee has 
requested but not received from the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office a statement as to whether this bill 
contains any new budget authority, spending authority, credit 
authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax 
expenditures. The Chairman of the Committee shall cause such 
estimate and statement to be printed in the Congressional 
Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, a cost 
estimate provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant 
to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not 
made available to the Committee in time for the filing of this 
report. The Chairman of the Committee shall cause such estimate 
to be printed in the Congressional Record upon its receipt by 
the Committee.

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
performance goal and objective of this legislation is to 
restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological 
integrity of the nation's waters by reauthorizing federal 
appropriations to provide financial assistance to states and 
communities for the construction of wastewater infrastructure, 
and for other purposes.

                    Duplication of Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision 
of H.R. 1915, as amended, establishes or reauthorizes a program 
of the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
federal program, a program that was included in any report from 
the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a 
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance.

   Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
                                Benefits

    In compliance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no 
Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the rule 
XXI.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman 
of the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

                        Preemption Clarification

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee finds that H.R. 1915, as amended, 
does not preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

             Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation


Section 1. Short title

    This section cites the bill as the ``Water Quality 
Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021''.

Sec. 2. Wastewater infrastructure workforce investment

    This section requires the EPA Administrator 
(Administrator), in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, 
to issue a report to Congress on the current and future 
workforce needs of public wastewater treatment utilities and 
actions, including federal investments, that can be taken to 
promote workforce development to address these needs.

Sec. 3. Technical assistance to rural, small, and tribal communities

    This section authorizes a total of $500 million over fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026 for several Clean Water Act grant 
authorities related to research, studies, technical assistance, 
training, and information under section 104 of the Act, of 
which $250 million is designated for grants to provide 
technical assistance to rural, small, and tribal communities in 
the planning, design, and construction of wastewater facilities 
and to achieve and maintain compliance with the Act. The 
Administrator is to submit to Congress, not later than two 
years after the date of enactment of this section, a report 
that describes the implementation of these grants during the 
two fiscal years preceding the date of the report, including a 
description of the recipients and amounts of such grants.

Sec. 4. State management assistance

    This section authorizes a total of $2.5 billion over fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026 in grants to states for implementing 
state water quality improvement programs (under Section 106 of 
the Act).

Sec. 5. Watershed, wet weather, and resiliency projects

    This section amends section 122 of the Act to authorize a 
new grant eligibility for public wastewater utilities to assess 
and address future risks posed by manmade or natural disasters, 
including extreme weather events, drought, and sea-level rise, 
as well as cybersecurity risks. This section authorizes a total 
of $1 billion to municipalities to carry out watershed, wet 
weather, and resiliency and security projects, including 
measures to reduce cybersecurity vulnerability.
    This section also clarifies the application of the American 
Made Iron and Steel provisions of Title VI of the Clean Water 
Act to activities carried out under this section, as well as 
provides that not less than 15 percent of the amounts 
appropriated pursuant to this section in a fiscal year shall be 
used to provide assistance to municipalities with a population 
of less than 10,000 people, to the extent there are sufficient 
eligible applications.

Sec. 6. Waiver of matching requirement for grants to the District of 
        Columbia

    This section waives the requirement for the District of 
Columbia to provide a non-federal match for wastewater 
infrastructure grants provided under Title II of the Act, 
aligning the District with treatment of similar funding to U.S. 
Territories.

Sec. 7. Pilot program for alternative water source projects

    This section amends section 220 of the Act to authorize a 
total of $1 billion for grants to carry out alternative water 
source projects, including projects for groundwater recharge 
and potable reuse.
    This section expands the types of projects eligible to 
receive funding under this authority to include projects that 
reclaim stormwater, as well as certain projects that may be 
authorized under the Reclamation Projects Authorization and 
Adjustment Act of 1992 (Reclamation Act). However, this section 
explicitly excludes from eligibility for assistance under 
section 220 of the Clean Water Act any project authorized under 
the Reclamation Act that has received any construction funding 
under that authority.
    In awarding grants under this section, the Committee 
expects that the Administrator will evaluate all proposals for 
alternative water source projects and award grants to eligible 
projects based on the criteria established by this section. The 
Committee does not intend for this authority simply to fund 
previously authorized projects under the Reclamation Act.
    This section also clarifies the application of the American 
Made Iron and Steel provisions of Title VI of the Clean Water 
Act to activities carried out under this section, as well as 
provides that not less than 15 percent of the amounts 
appropriated pursuant to this section in a fiscal year shall be 
used to provide assistance to municipalities with a population 
of less than 10,000, to the extent there are sufficient 
eligible applications.
    In addition, consistent with House Report 106-995, projects 
that fall within the definition of ``alternative water source 
project'' are considered treatment works for the purposes of 
section 212 and 513 of the Clean Water Act.

Sec. 8. Sewer overflow and stormwater reuse municipal grants

    This section amends section 221 of the Act to authorize a 
total of $2 billion over fiscal years 2022 through 2026 in 
grants for sewer overflow and stormwater reuse projects, as 
well as provides for a greater federal cost share of projects 
that serve financially distressed communities.
    This section also clarifies the application of the American 
Made Iron and Steel provisions of Title VI of the Clean Water 
Act to activities carried out under this section, as well as 
provides that not less than 20 percent of the amounts 
appropriated pursuant to this section in a fiscal year shall be 
used to provide assistance to municipalities with a population 
of less than 20,000 people, to the extent there are sufficient 
eligible applications.

Sec. 9. Grants for the treatment of emerging contaminants

    This section authorizes a total of $1 billion over fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026 in grants to municipalities for the 
implementation of Clean Water Act treatment standards for 
emerging contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl 
substances (PFAS). The authorization of funds under this 
section is not intended to affect, and does not affect or 
supplant, any liability or financial responsibility of any 
party responsible for the release or presence of such 
contaminants in the environment.

Sec. 10. Household wastewater treatment system grant program

    This section authorizes $250 million over fiscal years 2022 
through 2026 in grants to assist low-income households to 
install, repair, or replace domestic septic systems, or to 
attach households with failing septic systems to public sewer 
systems. This section prioritizes grant funding to those low-
income households that currently lack access to sewage 
treatment technologies, including households that currently use 
cesspools to capture or store domestic sewage. The 
Administrator is to submit to Congress, not later than two 
years after the date of enactment of this section, a report 
that describes the recipients of grants and assistance under 
this section and the results of the program established under 
this section.

Sec. 11. Smart wastewater infrastructure technology grant program

    This section authorizes $500 million over fiscal years 2022 
through 2026 in grants to municipalities for the modernization 
of wastewater collection systems and stormwater management 
technologies. The Administrator is to submit to Congress, not 
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
section, a report that describes the projects funded under this 
section, any related improvement of the resiliency of publicly 
owned treatment works, and recommendations to improve the grant 
program established under this section.

Sec. 12. Reports to Congress

    This section directs the Administrator to include in its 
statutorily required, biennial needs assessment report, an 
estimate of the costs to implement resiliency and 
sustainability measures at publicly owned treatment works, as 
well as conduct a more-detailed assessment of the wastewater 
infrastructure repair and replacement needs.
    Section 516 of the Clean Water Act requires the 
Administrator, in cooperation with the states, including water 
pollution control agencies and other water pollution control 
planning agencies, to prepare, and biennially revise, a 
detailed cost estimate on the cost of construction of all 
needed publicly owned treatment works in each of the states. 
This state-by-state survey on clean water infrastructure needs, 
which is commonly referred to as the ``Clean Watersheds Needs 
Survey,'' is critical to understanding the overall scale of 
wastewater infrastructure needs facing the nation, and for 
ensuring robust federal participation in addressing that need. 
The Committee notes that the last Clean Water Needs Survey was 
provided to Congress in January 2016, and includes information 
gathered from the states prior to 2012.\52\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \52\U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). Clean Watersheds 
Needs Survey 2012. Report to Congress. (EPA-830-R-15005). Retrieved 
from https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-12/documents/
cwns_2012_report_to_congress-508-opt.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Pursuant to section 516 of the Clean Water Act, the 
Administrator should have provided Congress with a revised 
Clean Water Needs Survey in 2018; however, no such report has 
been released so far. The Committee expects the Administrator 
to follow their legal responsibility under section 516 to 
report to Congress every two years on the overall clean water 
needs facing the nation and to immediately provide an updated 
Clean Water Needs Survey to Congress.
    This section also requires the Administrator to conduct an 
annual audit of funds utilized by states for green 
infrastructure, water- or energy-efficiency improvements, or 
other environmentally innovative projects. The Committee 
received testimony on the lack of data related to utilization 
of Clean Water SRF funds for projects to address green 
infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements, or 
other environmentally innovative activities--commonly referred 
to as the ``green project reserve'' and which is made permanent 
in H.R. 1915, as amended.\53\ In response, this section 
requires the Administrator to submit an annual report on the 
use of Clean Water Act funds under either section 221 or Title 
VI of the Act for projects that fall within the green project 
reserve definition, and on the cost and benefits of such 
projects, including any potential short- and long-term cost 
savings to public utilities and any environmental and community 
benefits of implementing such projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \53\See Testimony of Mr. Rebecca Hammer at note 42.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 13. Indian tribes

    This section codifies in the Act the annual set-aside of 
funds from the Clean Water SRF (two percent of annual Clean 
Water SRF capitalization grants or $30 million, whichever is 
greater) for projects, training, technical assistance, or 
education for Indian tribes, reservations, and Alaskan Native 
Villages. This provision has been included in annual 
Congressional appropriations legislation covering the Clean 
Water SRF over the past several years.
    This section also authorizes an additional $2.5 billion in 
grant assistance to address the backlog of wastewater 
infrastructure projects on Tribal lands. Funds appropriated 
pursuant to this authority should be awarded in the same 
manner, and subject to the same conditions, as funds awarded to 
address tribal wastewater infrastructure needs through the 
Clean Water SRF and section 518 of the Act.

Sec. 14. Capitalization grants

    This section amends section 602 of the Act to: (1) require 
utilities that utilize the Clean Water SRF to consider 
modifications that promote efficient energy use at the utility 
(such as technologies that capture and reuse methane produced 
in the treatment of wastewater); and (2) require a minimum of 
20 percent of Clean Water SRF capitalization grants be directed 
towards certain project categories, including 15 percent for 
projects which address green infrastructure, water or energy 
efficiency improvements, or other environmentally innovative 
projects, and five percent for projects that increase the 
resiliency of treatment works to extreme weather, drought, sea 
level rise, and other impacts of climate change. Potentially 
eligible projects include, but are not limited to, replacing 
inefficient pumps or pumping systems; rain gardens; permeable 
pavements; green roofs; bioswales; and rainwater harvesting.

Sec. 15. Water pollution control revolving loan funds

    This section includes grants as eligible state assistance 
and directs states to utilize a minimum of 20 percent and a 
maximum of 50 percent of their annual Clean Water SRF funding 
to provide additional subsidization (including grants) to 
municipalities that use SRF funds. This section also clarifies 
that Clean Water SRF funding can be used by utilities to 
address cybersecurity vulnerabilities at wastewater treatment 
operations.

Sec. 16. Allotment of funds

    This section authorizes states to use up to one percent of 
their annual Clean Water SRF capitalization grants to promote 
workforce development and utility worker training and education 
programs.

Sec. 17. Reservation of funds for territories of the United States

    This section codifies the annual reservation of one-and-a-
half percent of Clean Water SRF funding for the U.S. 
Territories, and authorizes the U.S. Territories to use this 
funding for projects and activities eligible under section 
603(c) of the Act. This provision has been included in annual 
Congressional appropriations legislation covering the Clean 
Water SRF over the past several years.

Sec. 18. Authorization of appropriations

    This section provides a total of $40 billion in funding 
authorizations for the Clean Water SRF program for fiscal years 
2022 through 2026.

Sec. 19. Technical assistance by Municipal Ombudsman

    This section amends the existing authority for EPA to 
establish a Municipal Ombudsman Office within the agency to 
include assistance to rural, small, and tribal communities.

Sec. 20. Report on wastewater infrastructure funding for rural, 
        economically disadvantaged, and tribal communities

    This section directs the Administrator to initiate a study, 
and issue a report to Congress not later than two years after 
the date of enactment of this section, on the distribution of 
clean water infrastructure funding directed at the wastewater 
infrastructure needs of rural, economically disadvantaged, and 
Tribal communities.

Sec. 21. Water Reuse Interagency Working Group

    This section directs the Administrator to establish a Water 
Reuse Interagency Working Group to develop and coordinate 
actions and resources to encourage greater reuse of water, 
including through implementation of the 2020 National Water 
Reuse Action Plan,\54\ and to submit to Congress, not less 
frequently than every two years, a report on the activities and 
findings of the working group. The working group is to 
terminate on the date that is six years after the date of 
enactment of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \54\The National Water Reuse Action Plan, finalized by EPA in 2020, 
seeks to ``promote the consideration of water reuse as a tool to 
improve the resiliency, security, and sustainability of the Nation's 
water'' See 85 Fed. Reg. 12552 (March 2, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

                  FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT


TITLE I--RESEARCH AND RELATED PROGRAMS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



          research, investigations, training, and information

  Sec. 104. (a) The Administrator shall establish national 
programs for the prevention, reduction, and elimination of 
pollution and as part of such programs shall--
          (1) in cooperation with other Federal, State, and 
        local agencies, conduct and promote the coordination 
        and acceleration of, research, investigations, 
        experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and 
        studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, 
        prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution;
          (2) encourage, cooperate with, and render technical 
        services to pollution control agencies and other 
        appropriate public or private agencies, institutions, 
        and organizations, and individuals, including the 
        general public, in the conduct of activities referred 
        to in paragraph (1) of this subsection;
          (3) conduct, in cooperation with State water 
        pollution control agencies and other interested 
        agencies, organizations and persons, public 
        investigations concerning the pollution of any 
        navigable waters, and report on the results of such 
        investigations;
          (4) establish advisory committees composed of 
        recognized experts in various aspects of pollution and 
        representatives of the public to assist in the 
        examination and evaluation of research progress and 
        proposals and to avoid duplication of research;
          (5) in cooperation with the States, and their 
        political subdivisions, and other Federal agencies 
        establish, equip, and maintain a water quality 
        surveillance system for the purpose of monitoring the 
        quality of the navigable waters and ground waters and 
        the contiguous zone and the oceans and the 
        Administrator shall, to the extent practicable, conduct 
        such surveillance by utilizing the resources of the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
        Geological Survey, and the Coast Guard, and shall 
        report on such quality in the report required under 
        subsection (a) of section 516; and
          (6) initiate and promote the coordination and 
        acceleration of research designed to develop the most 
        effective practicable tools and techniques for 
        measuring the social and economic costs and benefits of 
        activities which are subject to regulations under this 
        Act; and shall transmit a report on the results of such 
        research to the Congress not later than January 1, 
        1974.
  (b) In carrying out the provisions of subsection (a) of this 
section the Administrator is authorized to--
          (1) collect and make available, through publications 
        and other appropriate means, the results of and other 
        information, including appropriate recommendations by 
        him in connection therewith, pertaining to such 
        research and other activities referred to in paragraph 
        (1) of subsection (a);
          (2) cooperate with other Federal departments and 
        agencies, State water pollution control agencies, 
        interstate agencies, other public and private agencies, 
        institutions, organizations, industries involved, and 
        individuals, in the preparation and conduct of such 
        research and other activities referred to in paragraph 
        (1) of subsection (a);
          (3) make grants to State water pollution control 
        agencies, interstate agencies, other public or 
        nonprofit private agencies, institutions, 
        organizations, and individuals, for purposes stated in 
        paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this section;
          (4) contract with public or private agencies, 
        institutions, organizations, and individuals, without 
        regard to sections 3648 and 3709 of the Revised 
        Statutes (31 U.S.C. 529; 41 U.S.C. 5), referred to in 
        paragraph (1) of subsection (a);
          (5) establish and maintain research fellowships at 
        public or nonprofit private educational institutions or 
        research organizations;
          (6) collect and disseminate, in cooperation with 
        other Federal departments and agencies, and with other 
        public or private agencies, institutions, and 
        organizations having related responsibilities, basic 
        data on chemical, physical, and biological effects of 
        varying water quality and other information pertaining 
        to pollution and the prevention, reduction, and 
        elimination thereof;
          (7) develop effective and practical processes, 
        methods, and prototype devices for the prevention, 
        reduction, and elimination of pollution; and
          (8) make grants to nonprofit organizations--
                  (A) to provide technical assistance to rural, 
                small, and tribal municipalities for the 
                purpose of assisting, in consultation with the 
                State in which the assistance is provided, such 
                municipalities and tribal governments in the 
                planning, developing, and acquisition of 
                financing for eligible projects and activities 
                described in section 603(c);
                  (B) to provide technical assistance and 
                training for rural, small, and tribal publicly 
                owned treatment works and decentralized 
                wastewater treatment systems to enable such 
                treatment works and systems to protect water 
                quality and achieve and maintain compliance 
                with the requirements of this Act; and
                  (C) to disseminate information to rural, 
                small, and tribal municipalities and 
                municipalities that meet the affordability 
                criteria established under section 603(i)(2) by 
                the State in which the municipality is located 
                with respect to planning, design, construction, 
                and operation of publicly owned treatment works 
                and decentralized wastewater treatment systems.
  (c) In carrying out the provisions of subsection (a) of this 
section the Administrator shall conduct research on, and survey 
the results of other scientific studies on, the harmful effects 
on the health or welfare of persons caused by pollutants. In 
order to avoid duplication of effort, the Administrator shall, 
to the extent practicable, conduct such research in cooperation 
with and through the facilities of the Secretary of Health, 
Education, and Welfare.
  (d) In carrying out the provisions of this section the 
Administrator shall develop and demonstrate under varied 
conditions (including conducting such basic and applied 
research, studies, and experiments as may be necessary):
          (1) Practicable means of treating municipal sewage, 
        and other waterborne wastes to implement the 
        requirements of section 201 of this Act;
          (2) Improved methods and procedures to identify and 
        measure the effects of pollutants, including those 
        pollutants created by new technological developments; 
        and
          (3) Methods and procedures for evaluating the effects 
        on water quality of augmented streamflows to control 
        pollution not susceptible to other means of prevention, 
        reduction, or elimination.
  (e) The Administrator shall establish, equip, and maintain 
field laboratory and research facilities, including, but not 
limited to, one to be located in the northeastern area of the 
United States, one in the Middle Atlantic area, one in the 
southeastern area, one in the midwestern area, one in the 
southwestern area, one in the Pacific Northwest, and one in the 
State of Alaska, for the conduct of research, investigations, 
experiments, field demonstrations and studies, and training 
relating to the prevention, reduction and elimination of 
pollution. Insofar as practicable, each such facility shall be 
located near institutions of higher learning in which graduate 
training in such research might be carried out. In conjunction 
with the development of criteria under section 403 of this Act, 
the Administrator shall construct the facilities authorized for 
the National Marine Water Quality Laboratory established under 
this subsection.
  (f) The Administrator shall conduct research and technical 
development work, and make studies, with respect to the quality 
of the waters of the Great Lakes, including an analysis of the 
present and projected future water quality of the Great Lakes 
under varying conditions of waste treatment and disposal, an 
evaluation of the water quality needs of those to be served by 
such waters, an evaluation of municipal, industrial, and vessel 
waste treatment and disposal practices with respect to such 
waters, and a study of alternate means of solving pollution 
problems (including additional waste treatment measures) with 
respect to such waters.
  (g)(1) For the purpose of providing an adequate supply of 
trained personnel to operate and maintain existing and future 
treatment works and related activities, and for the purpose of 
enhancing substantially the proficiency of those engaged in 
such activities, the Administrator shall finance pilot 
programs, in cooperation with State and interstate agencies, 
municipalities, educational institutions, and other 
organizations and individuals, of [manpower] workforce 
development and training and retraining of persons in, on 
entering into, the field of operation and maintenance of 
treatment works and related activities. Such program and any 
funds expended for such a program shall supplement, not 
supplant, other [manpower] workforce and training programs and 
funds available for the purposes of this paragraph. The 
Administrator is authorized, under such terms and conditions as 
he deems appropriate, to enter into agreements with one or more 
States, acting jointly or severally, or with other public or 
private agencies or institutions for the development and 
implementation of such a program.
  (2) The Administrator is authorized to enter into agreements 
with public and private agencies and institutions, and 
individuals to develop and maintain an effective system for 
forecasting the supply of, and demand for, various professional 
and other occupational categories needed for the prevention, 
reduction, and elimination of pollution in each region, State, 
or area of the United States and, from time to time, to publish 
the results of such forecasts.
  (3) In furtherance of the purposes of this Act, the 
Administrator is authorized to--
          (A) make grants to public or private agencies and 
        institutions and to individuals for training projects, 
        and provide for the conduct of training by contract 
        with public or private agencies and institutions and 
        with individuals without regard to sections 3648 and 
        3709 of the Revised Statutes;
          (B) establish and maintain research fellowships in 
        the Environmental Protection Agency with such stipends 
        and allowances, including traveling and subsistence 
        expenses, as he may deem necessary to procure the 
        assistance of the most promising research fellows; and
          (C) provide, in addition to the program established 
        under paragraph (1) of this subsection, training in 
        technical matters relating to the causes, prevention, 
        reduction, and elimination of pollution for personnel 
        of public agencies and other persons with suitable 
        qualifications.
  [(4) The Administrator shall submit, through the President, a 
report to the Congress not later than December 31, 1973, 
summarizing the actions taken under this subsection and the 
effectiveness of such actions, and setting forth the number of 
persons trained, the occupational categories for which training 
was provided, the effectiveness of other Federal, State, and 
local training programs in this field, together with estimates 
of future needs, recommendations on improving training 
programs, and such other information and recommendations, 
including legislative recommendations, as he deems 
appropriate.]
          (4) Report to congress on publicly owned treatment 
        works workforce development.--Not later than 2 years 
        after the date of enactment of the Water Quality 
        Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021, the 
        Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of 
        Labor, shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
        and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
        the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the 
        Senate a report containing--
                  (A) an assessment of the current and future 
                workforce needs for publicly owned treatment 
                works, including an estimate of the number of 
                future positions needed for such treatment 
                works and the technical skills and education 
                needed for such positions;
                  (B) a summary of actions taken by the 
                Administrator, including Federal investments 
                under this chapter, that promote workforce 
                development to address such needs; and
                  (C) any recommendations of the Administrator 
                to address such needs.
  (h) The Administrator is authorized to enter into contracts, 
with, or make grants to, public or private agencies and 
organizations and individuals for (A) the purpose of developing 
and demonstrating new or improved methods for the prevention, 
removal, reduction, and elimination of pollution in lakes, 
including the undesirable effects of nutrients and vegetation, 
and (B) the construction of publicly owned research facilities 
for such purpose.
  (i) The Administrator, in cooperation with the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall--
          (1) engage in such research, studies, experiments, 
        and demonstrations as he deems appropriate, relative to 
        the removal of oil from any waters and to the 
        prevention, control, and elimination of oil and 
        hazardous substances pollution;
          (2) publish from time to time the results of such 
        activities; and
          (3) from time to time, develop and publish in the 
        Federal Register specifications and other technical 
        information on the various chemical compounds used in 
        the control of oil and hazardous substances spills.
In carrying out this subsection, the Administrator may enter 
into contracts with, or make grants to, public or private 
agencies and organizations and individuals.
  (j) The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating shall engage in such research, studies, 
experiments, and demonstrations as he deems appropriate 
relative to equipment which is to be installed on board a 
vessel and is designed to receive, retain, treat, or discharge 
human body wastes and the wastes from toilets and other 
receptacles intended to receive or retain body wastes with 
particular emphasis on equipment to be installed on small 
recreational vessels. The Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall report to Congress the 
results of such research, studies, experiments, and 
demonstrations prior to the effective date of any regulations 
established under section 312 of this Act. In carrying out this 
subsection the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating may enter into contracts with, or make 
grants to, public or private organizations and individuals.
  (k) In carrying out the provisions of this section relating 
to the conduct by the Administrator of demonstration projects 
and the development of field laboratories and research 
facilities, the Administrator may acquire land and interests 
therein by purchase, with appropriated or donated funds, by 
donation, or by exchange for acquired or public lands under his 
jurisdiction which he classifies as suitable for disposition. 
The values of the properties so exchanged either shall be 
approximately equal, or if they are not approximately equal, 
the values shall be equalized by the payment of cash to the 
grantor or to the Administrator as the circumstances require.
  (l)(1) The Administrator shall, after consultation with 
appropriate local, State, and Federal agencies, public and 
private organizations, and interested individuals, as soon as 
practicable but not later than January 1, 1973, develop and 
issue to the States for the purpose of carrying out this Act 
the latest scientific knowledge available in indicating the 
kind and extent of effects on health and welfare which may be 
expected from the presence of pesticides in the water in 
varying quantities. He shall revise and add to such information 
whenever necessary to reflect developing scientific knowledge.
  (2) The President shall, in consultation with appropriate 
local, State, and Federal agencies, public and private 
organizations, and interested individuals, conduct studies and 
investigations of methods to control the release of pesticides 
into the environment which study shall include examination of 
the persistency of pesticides in the water environment and 
alternatives thereto. The President shall submit reports, from 
time to time, on such investigations to Congress together with 
his recommendations for any necessary legislation.
  (m)(1) The Administrator shall, in an effort to prevent 
degradation of the environment from the disposal of waste oil, 
conduct a study of (A) the generation of used engine, machine, 
cooling, and similar waste oil, including quantities generated, 
the nature and quality of such oil, present collecting methods 
and disposal practices, and alternate uses of such oil; (B) the 
long-term, chronic biological effects of the disposal of such 
waste oil; and (C) the potential market for such oils, 
including the economic and legal factors relating to the sale 
of products made from such oils, the level of subsidy, if any, 
needed to encourage the purchase by public and private 
nonprofit agencies of products from such oil, and the 
practicability of Federal procurement, on a priority basis, of 
products made from such oil. In conducting such study, the 
Administrator shall consult with affected industries and other 
persons.
  (2) The Administrator shall report the preliminary results of 
such study to Congress within six months after the date of 
enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments 
of 1972, and shall submit a final report to Congress within 18 
months after such date of enactment.
  (n)(1) The Administrator shall, in cooperation with the 
Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Water 
Resources Council, and with other appropriate Federal, State, 
interstate, or local public bodies and private organizations, 
institutions, and individuals, conduct and promote, encourage 
contributions to, continuing comprehensive studies of the 
effects of pollution, including sedimentation, in the estuaries 
and estuarine zones of the United States on fish and wildlife, 
on sport and commercial fishing, on recreation, on water supply 
and water power, and on other beneficial purposes. Such studies 
shall also consider the effect of demographic trends, the 
exploitation of mineral resources and fossil fuels, land and 
industrial development, navigation, flood and erosion control, 
and other uses of estuaries and estuarine zones upon the 
pollution of the waters therein.
  (2) In conducting such studies, the Administrator shall 
assemble, coordinate, and organize all existing pertinent 
information on the Nation's estuaries and estuarine zones; 
carry out a program of investigations and surveys to supplement 
existing information in representative estuaries and estuarine 
zones; and identify the problems and areas where further 
research and study are required.
  (3) The Administrator shall submit to Congress, from time to 
time, reports of the studies authorized by this subsection but 
at least one such report during any six-year period. Copies of 
each such report shall be made available to all interested 
parties, public and private.
  (4) For the purpose of this subsection, the term ``estuarine 
zones'' means an environmental system consisting of an estuary 
and those transitional areas which are consistently influenced 
or affected by water from an estuary such as, but not limited 
to, salt marshes, coastal and intertidal areas, bays, harbors, 
lagoons, inshore waters, and channels, and the term ``estuary'' 
means all or part of the mouth of a river or stream or other 
body of water having unimpaired natural connection with open 
sea and within which the sea water is measurably diluted with 
fresh water derived from land drainage.
  (o)(1) The Administrator shall conduct research and 
investigations on devices, systems, incentives, pricing policy, 
and other methods of reducing the total flow of sewage, 
including, but not limited to, unnecessary water consumption in 
order to reduce the requirements for, and the costs of, sewage 
and waste treatment services. Such research and investigations 
shall be directed to develop devices, systems, policies, and 
methods capable of achieving the maximum reduction of 
unnecessary water consumption.
  (2) The Administrator shall report the preliminary results of 
such studies and investigations to the Congress within one year 
after the date of enactment of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act Amendments of 1972, and annually thereafter in the 
report required under subsection (a) of section 516. Such 
report shall include recommendations for any legislation that 
may be required to provide for the adoption and use of devices, 
systems, policies, or other methods of reducing water 
consumption and reducing the total flow of sewage. Such report 
shall include an estimate of the benefits to be derived from 
adoption and use of such devices, systems, policies, or other 
methods and also shall reflect estimates of any increase in 
private, public, or other cost that would be occasioned 
thereby.
  (p) In carrying out the provisions of subsection (a) of this 
section the Administrator shall, in cooperation with the 
Secretary of Agriculture, other Federal agencies, and the 
States, carry out a comprehensive study and research program to 
determine new and improved methods and the better application 
of existing methods of preventing, reducing, and eliminating 
pollution from agriculture, including the legal, economic, and 
other implications of the use of such methods.
  (q)(1) The Administrator shall conduct a comprehensive 
program of research and investigation and pilot project 
implementation into new and improved methods of preventing, 
reducing, storing, collecting, treating, or otherwise 
eliminating pollution from sewage in rural and other areas 
where collection of sewage in conventional, community-wide 
sewage collection systems is impractical, uneconomical, or 
otherwise infeasible, or where soil conditions or other factors 
preclude the use of septic tank and drainage field systems.
  (2) The Administrator shall conduct a comprehensive program 
of research and investigation and pilot project implementation 
into new and improved methods for the collection and treatment 
of sewage and other liquid wastes combined with the treatment 
and disposal of solid wastes.
  (3) The Administrator shall establish, either within the 
Environmental Protection Agency, or through contract with an 
appropriate public or private non-profit organization, a 
national clearinghouse which shall (A) receive reports and 
information resulting from research, demonstrations, and other 
projects funded under this Act related to paragraph (1) of this 
subsection and to subsection (e)(2) of section 105; (B) 
coordinate and disseminate such reports and information for use 
by Federal and State agencies, municipalities, institutions, 
and persons in developing new and improved methods pursuant to 
this subsection; and (C) provide for the collection and 
dissemination of reports and information relevant to this 
subsection from other Federal and State agencies, institutions, 
universities, and persons.
          (4) Small flows clearinghouse.--Notwithstanding 
        section 205(d) of this Act, from amounts that are set 
        aside for a fiscal year under section 205(i) of this 
        Act and are not obligated by the end of the 24-month 
        period of availability for such amounts under section 
        205(d), the Administrator shall make available 
        $1,000,000 or such unobligated amount, whichever is 
        less, to support a national clearinghouse within the 
        Environmental Protection Agency to collect and 
        disseminate information on small flows of sewage and 
        innovative or alternative wastewater treatment 
        processes and techniques, consistent with paragraph 
        (3). This paragraph shall apply with respect to amounts 
        set aside under section 205(i) for which the 24-month 
        period of availability referred to in the preceding 
        sentence ends on or after September 30, 1986.
  (r) The Administrator is authorized to make grants to 
colleges and universities to conduct basic research into the 
structure and function of fresh water aquatic ecosystems, and 
to improve understanding of the ecological characteristics 
necessary to the maintenance of the chemical, physical, and 
biological integrity of freshwater aquatic ecosystems.
  (s) The Administrator is authorized to make grants to one or 
more institutions of higher education (regionally located and 
to be designated as ``River Study Centers'') for the purpose of 
conducting and reporting on interdisciplinary studies on the 
nature of river systems, including hydrology, biology, ecology, 
economics, the relationship between river uses and land uses, 
and the effects of development within river basins on river 
systems and on the value of water resources and water related 
activities. No such grant in any fiscal year shall exceed 
$1,000,000.
  (t) The Administrator shall, in cooperation with State and 
Federal agencies and public and private organizations, conduct 
continuing comprehensive studies of the effects and methods of 
control of thermal discharges. In evaluating alternative 
methods of control the studies shall consider (1) such data as 
are available on the latest available technology, economic 
feasibility including cost-effectiveness analysis, and (2) the 
total impact on the environment, considering not only water 
quality but also air quality, land use, and effective 
utilization and conservation of fresh water and other natural 
resources. Such studies shall consider methods of minimizing 
adverse effects and maximizing beneficial effects of thermal 
discharges. The results of these studies shall be reported by 
the Administrator as soon as practicable, but not later than 
270 days after enactment of this subsection, and shall be made 
available to the public and the States, and considered as they 
become available by the Administrator in carrying out section 
316 of this Act and by the State in proposing thermal water 
quality standards.
  (u) There is authorized to be appropriated (1) not to exceed 
$100,000,000 per fiscal year for the fiscal year ending June 
30, 1973, the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, and the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1975, not to exceed $14,039,000 for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, not to exceed 
$20,697,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1981, not 
to exceed $22,770,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
1982, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1983 
through 1985, and not to exceed $22,770,000 per fiscal year for 
each of the fiscal years 1986 through 1990, for carrying out 
the provisions of this section, other than subsections (g)(1) 
and (2), (p), (r), and (t), except that such authorizations are 
not for any research, development, or demonstration activity 
pursuant to such provisions; (2) not to exceed $7,500,000 for 
fiscal years 1973, 1974, and 1975, $2,000,000 for fiscal year 
1977, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1978, $3,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1979, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, $3,000,000 for 
fiscal year 1981, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, such sums as 
may be necessary for fiscal years 1983 through 1985, and 
$3,000,000 per fiscal year for each of the fiscal years 1986 
through 1990, for carrying out the provisions of subsection 
(g)(1); (3) not to exceed $2,500,000 for fiscal years 1973, 
1974, and 1975, $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, $1,500,000 for 
fiscal year 1978, $1,500,000 for fiscal year 1979, $1,500,000 
for fiscal year 1980, $1,500,000 for fiscal year 1981, 
$1,500,000 for fiscal year 1982, such sums as may be necessary 
for fiscal years 1983 through 1985, and $1,500,000 per fiscal 
year for each of the fiscal years 1986 through 1990, for 
carrying out the provisions of subsection (g)(2); (4) not to 
exceed $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 
1973, June 30, 1974, and June 30, 1975, for carrying out the 
provisions of subsection (p); (5) not to exceed $15,000,000 per 
fiscal year for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1973, June 30, 
1974, and June 30, 1975, for carrying out the provisions of 
subsection (r); (6) not to exceed $10,000,000 per fiscal year 
for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1973, June 30, 1974, and 
June 30, 1975, for carrying out the provisions of subsection 
(t); [and (7)] (7) not to exceed $25,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through [2023] 2021 for carrying out subsections 
(b)(3), (b)(8), and (g); and (8) not to exceed $100,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 for carrying out 
subsections (b)(3), (b)(8), and (g), except that not less than 
half of the amounts so appropriated to carry out such 
subsections in each such fiscal year shall be used for carrying 
out subsection (b)(8).
  (v) Studies Concerning Pathogen Indicators in Coastal 
Recreation Waters.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
the enactment of this subsection, after consultation and in 
cooperation with appropriate Federal, State, tribal, and local 
officials (including local health officials), the Administrator 
shall initiate, and, not later than 3 years after the date of 
the enactment of this subsection, shall complete, in 
cooperation with the heads of other Federal agencies, studies 
to provide additional information for use in developing--
          (1) an assessment of potential human health risks 
        resulting from exposure to pathogens in coastal 
        recreation waters, including nongastrointestinal 
        effects;
          (2) appropriate and effective indicators for 
        improving detection in a timely manner in coastal 
        recreation waters of the presence of pathogens that are 
        harmful to human health;
          (3) appropriate, accurate, expeditious, and cost-
        effective methods (including predictive models) for 
        detecting in a timely manner in coastal recreation 
        waters the presence of pathogens that are harmful to 
        human health; and
          (4) guidance for State application of the criteria 
        for pathogens and pathogen indicators to be published 
        under section 304(a)(9) to account for the diversity of 
        geographic and aquatic conditions.
  (w) Nonprofit Organization.--For purposes of subsection 
(b)(8), the term ``nonprofit organization'' means a nonprofit 
organization that the Administrator determines, after 
consultation with the States regarding what small publicly 
owned treatments works in the State find to be most beneficial 
and effective, is qualified and experienced in providing on-
site training and technical assistance to small publicly owned 
treatment works.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                 grants for pollution control programs

  Sec. 106. (a) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated 
the following sums, to remain available until expended, to 
carry out the purposes of this section--
          (1) $60,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 
        1973; [and]
          (2) $75,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 
        1974, and the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, 
        $100,000,000 per fiscal year for the fiscal years 1977, 
        1978, 1979, and 1980, $75,000,000 per fiscal year for 
        the fiscal years 1981 and 1982, such sums as may be 
        necessary for fiscal years 1983 through 1985, and 
        $75,000,000 per fiscal year for each of the fiscal 
        years 1986 through 1990;
          (3) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
        years 1991 through 2021; and
          (4) $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
        through 2026;
for grants to States and to interstate agencies to assist them 
in administering programs for the prevention, reduction, and 
elimination of pollution, including enforcement directly or 
through appropriate State law enforcement officers or agencies.
  (b) From the sums appropriated in any fiscal year, the 
Administrator shall make allotments to the several States and 
interstate agencies in accordance with regulations promulgated 
by him on the basis of the extent of the pollution problem in 
the respective States.
  (c) The Administrator is authorized to pay to each State and 
interstate agency each fiscal year either--
          (1) the allotment of such State or agency for such 
        fiscal year under subsection (b), or
          (2) the reasonable costs as determined by the 
        Administrator of developing and carrying out a 
        pollution program by such State or agency during such 
        fiscal year,
which ever amount is the lesser.
  (d) No grant shall be made under this section to any State or 
interstate agency for any fiscal year when the expenditure of 
non-Federal funds by such State or interstate agency during 
such fiscal year for the recurrent expenses of carrying out its 
pollution control program are less than the expenditure by such 
State or interstate agency of non-Federal funds for such 
recurrent program expenses during the fiscal year ending June 
30, 1971.
  (e) [Beginning in fiscal year 1974 the] The Administrator 
shall not make any grant under this section to any State which 
has not provided or is not carrying out as a part of its 
program--
          (1) the establishment and operation of appropriate 
        devices, methods, systems, and procedures necessary to 
        monitor, and to compile and analyze data on (including 
        classification according to eutrophic condition), the 
        quality of navigable waters and to the extent 
        practicable, ground waters including biological 
        monitoring; and provision for annually updating such 
        data and including it in the report required under 
        section 305 of this Act;
          (2) authority comparable to that in section 504 of 
        this Act and adequate contingency plans to implement 
        such authority.
  (f) Grants shall be made under this section on condition 
that--
          (1) Such State (or interstate agency) filed with the 
        Administrator within one hundred and twenty days after 
        the date of enactment of this section:
                  (A) a summary report of the current status of 
                the State pollution control program, including 
                the criteria used by the State in determining 
                priority of treatment works; and
                  (B) such additional information, data, and 
                reports as the Administrator may require.
          (2) No federally assumed enforcement as defined in 
        section 309(a)(2) is in effect with respect to such 
        State or interstate agency.
          (3) Such State (or interstate agency) submits within 
        one hundred and twenty days after the date of enactment 
        of this section and before October 1 of each year 
        thereafter for the Administrator's approval of its 
        program for the prevention, reduction, and elimination 
        of pollution in accordance with purposes and provisions 
        of this Act in such form and content as the 
        Administrator may prescribe.
  (g) Any sums allotted under subsection (b) in any fiscal year 
which are not paid shall be reallotted by the Administrator in 
accordance with regulations promulgated by him.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 122. [WATERSHED PILOT PROJECTS]  WATERSHED, WET WEATHER, AND 
                    RESILIENCY PROJECTS.

  (a) In General.--The Administrator, in coordination with the 
States, may provide technical assistance and grants to a 
municipality or municipal entity to carry out [pilot] projects 
relating to the following areas:
          (1) Watershed management of wet weather discharges.--
        The management of municipal combined sewer overflows, 
        sanitary sewer overflows, and stormwater discharges, on 
        an integrated watershed or subwatershed basis for the 
        purpose of demonstrating the effectiveness of a unified 
        wet weather approach.
          (2) Stormwater best management practices.--The 
        control of pollutants from municipal separate storm 
        sewer systems for the purpose of demonstrating and 
        determining controls that are cost-effective and that 
        use innovative technologies to manage, reduce, treat, 
        recapture, or reuse municipal stormwater, including 
        techniques that utilize infiltration, 
        evapotranspiration, and reuse of stormwater onsite.
          (3) Watershed partnerships.--Efforts of 
        municipalities and property owners to demonstrate 
        cooperative ways to address nonpoint sources of 
        pollution to reduce adverse impacts on water quality.
          (4) Integrated water resource plan.--The development 
        of an integrated water resource plan for the 
        coordinated management and protection of surface water, 
        ground water, and stormwater resources on a watershed 
        or subwatershed basis to meet the objectives, goals, 
        and policies of this Act.
          (5) Municipality-wide stormwater management 
        planning.--The development of a municipality-wide plan 
        that identifies the most effective placement of 
        stormwater technologies and management approaches, to 
        reduce water quality impairments from stormwater on a 
        municipality-wide basis.
          [(6) Increased resilience of treatment works.--
        Efforts to assess future risks and vulnerabilities of 
        publicly owned treatment works to manmade or natural 
        disasters, including extreme weather events and sea-
        level rise, and to carry out measures, on a systemwide 
        or area-wide basis, to increase the resiliency of 
        publicly owned treatment works.]
          (6) Increased resilience of treatment works.--
        Efforts--
                  (A) to assess future risks and 
                vulnerabilities of publicly owned treatment 
                works to manmade or natural disasters, 
                including extreme weather events, drought, and 
                sea level rise; and
                  (B) to carry out the planning, design, or 
                construction of projects, on a systemwide or 
                areawide basis, to increase the resilience of 
                publicly owned treatment works through--
                          (i) the conservation of water or the 
                        enhancement of water use efficiency;
                          (ii) the enhancement of wastewater 
                        (including stormwater) management by 
                        increasing watershed preservation and 
                        protection, including through--
                                  (I) the use of green 
                                infrastructure; or
                                  (II) the reclamation and 
                                reuse of wastewater (including 
                                stormwater), such as through 
                                aquifer recharge zones;
                          (iii) the modification or relocation 
                        of an existing publicly owned treatment 
                        works at risk of being significantly 
                        impaired or damaged by a manmade or 
                        natural disaster;
                          (iv) the enhancement of energy 
                        efficiency, or the use or generation of 
                        recovered or renewable energy, in the 
                        management, treatment, or conveyance of 
                        wastewater (including stormwater); or
                          (v) other activities that the 
                        Administrator determines will address 
                        identified vulnerabilities to manmade 
                        or natural disasters, including 
                        activities to address cybersecurity 
                        vulnerabilities of publicly owned 
                        treatment works.
  (b) Administration.--The Administrator, in coordination with 
the States, shall provide municipalities participating in a 
[pilot] project under this section the ability to engage in 
innovative practices, including the ability to unify separate 
wet weather control efforts under a single permit.
  [(c) Report to Congress.--Not later than October 1, 2015, the 
Administrator shall transmit to Congress a report on the 
results of the pilot projects conducted under this section and 
their possible application nationwide.]
  (c) Requirements.--The requirements of section 608 shall 
apply to any construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair 
of treatment works carried out using a grant under this 
section.
  (d) Assistance.--The Administrator shall use not less than 15 
percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to this section in 
a fiscal year to provide assistance to municipalities with a 
population of less than 10,000, or for economically 
disadvantaged communities (as defined in section 20 of the 
Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021), to the 
extent there are sufficient eligible applications.
  (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE II--GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TREATMENT WORKS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



                             federal share

  Sec. 202. (a)(1) The amount of any grant for treatment works 
made under this Act from funds authorized for any fiscal year 
beginning after June 30, 1971, and ending before October 1, 
1984, shall be 75 per centum of the cost of construction 
thereof (as approved by the Administrator), and for any fiscal 
year beginning on or after October 1, 1984, shall be 55 per 
centum of the cost of construction thereof (as approved by the 
Administrator), unless modified to a lower percentage rate 
uniform throughout a State by the Governor of that State with 
the concurrence of the Administrator. Within ninety days after 
the enactment of this sentence the Administrator shall issue 
guidelines for concurrence in any such modification, which 
shall provide for the consideration of the unobligated balance 
of sums allocated to the State under section 205 of this Act, 
the need for assistance under this title in such State, and the 
availability of State grant assistance to replace the Federal 
share reduced by such modification. The payment of any such 
reduced Federal share shall not constitute an obligation on the 
part of the United States or a claim on the part of any State 
or grantee to reimbursement for the portion of the Federal 
share reduced in any such State. Any grant (other than for 
reimbursement) made prior to the date of enactment of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 from any 
funds authorized for any fiscal year beginning after June 30, 
1971, shall, upon the request of the applicant, be increased to 
the applicable percentage under this section. Notwithstanding 
the first sentence of this paragraph, in any case where a 
primary, secondary, or advanced waste treatment facility or its 
related interceptors or a project for infiltration-in-flow 
correction has received a grant for erection, building, 
acquisition, alteration, remodeling, improvement, extension, or 
correction before October 1, 1984, all segments and phases of 
such facility, interceptors, and project for infiltration-in-
flow correction shall be eligible for grants at 75 per centum 
of the cost of construction thereof for any grant made pursuant 
to a State obligation which obligation occurred before October 
1, 1990. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this paragraph, 
in the case of a project for which an application for a grant 
under this title has been made to the Administrator before 
October 1, 1984, and which project is under judicial injunction 
on such date prohibiting its construction, such project shall 
be eligible for grants at 75 percent of the cost of 
construction thereof. Notwithstanding the first sentence of 
this paragraph, in the case of the Wyoming Valley Sanitary 
Authority project mandated by judicial order under a proceeding 
begun prior to October 1, 1984, and a project for wastewater 
treatment for Altoona, Pennsylvania, such projects shall be 
eligible for grants at 75 percent of the cost of construction 
thereof.
  (2) The amount of any grant made after September 30, 1978, 
and before October 1, 1981, for any eligible treatment works or 
significant portion thereof utilizing innovative or alternative 
wastewater treatment processes and techniques referred to in 
section 201(g)(5) shall be 85 per centum of the cost of 
construction thereof, unless modified by the Governor of the 
State with the concurrence of the Administrator to a percentage 
rate no less than 15 per centum greater than the modified 
uniform percentage rate in which the Administrator has 
concurred pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection. The 
amount of any grant made after September 30, 1981, for any 
eligible treatment works or unit processes and techniques 
thereof utilizing innovative or alternative wastewater 
treatment processes and techniques referred to in section 
201(g)(5) shall be a percentage of the cost of construction 
thereof equal to 20 per centum greater than the percentage in 
effect under paragraph (1) of this subsection for such works or 
unit processes and techniques, but in no event greater than 85 
per centum of the cost of construction thereof. No grant shall 
be made under this paragraph for construction of a treatment 
works in any State unless the proportion of the State 
contribution to the non-Federal share of construction costs for 
all treatment works in such State receiving a grant under this 
paragraph is the same as or greater than the proportion of the 
State contribution (if any) to the non-Federal share of 
construction costs for all treatment works receiving grants in 
such State under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
  (3) In addition to any grant made pursuant to paragraph (2) 
of this subsection, the Administrator is authorized to make a 
grant to fund all of the costs of the modification or 
replacement of any facilities constructed with a grant made 
pursuant to paragraph (2) if the Administrator finds that such 
facilities have not met design performance specifications 
unless such failure is attributable to negligence on the part 
of any person and if such failure has significantly increased 
capital or operating and maintenance expenditures. In addition, 
the Administrator is authorized to make a grant to fund all of 
the costs of the modification or replacement of biodisc 
equipment (rotating biological contactors) in any publicly 
owned treatment works if the Administrator finds that such 
equipment has failed to meet design performance specifications, 
unless such failure is attributable to negligence on the part 
of any person, and if such failure has significantly increased 
capital or operating and maintenance expenditures.
  (4) For the purposes of this section, the term ``eligible 
treatment works'' means those treatment works in each State 
which meet the requirements of section 201(g)(5) of this Act 
and which can be fully funded from funds available for such 
purpose in such State.
  (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, 
in the case of a project for a treatment works in the District 
of Columbia, such a project shall be eligible for grants at 100 
percent of the cost of construction thereof.
  (b) The amount of the grant for any project approved by the 
Administrator after January 1, 1971, and before July 1, 1971, 
for the construction of treatment works, the actual erection, 
building or acquisition of which was not commenced prior to 
July 1, 1971, shall, upon the request of the applicant, be 
increased to the applicable percentage under subsection (a) of 
this section for grants for treatment works from funds for 
fiscal years beginning after June 30, 1971, with respect to the 
cost of such actual erection, building, or acquisition. Such 
increased amount shall be paid from any funds allocated to the 
State in which the treatment works is located without regard to 
the fiscal year for which such funds were authorized. Such 
increased amount shall be paid for such project only if--
          (1) a sewage collection system that is a part of the 
        same total waste treatment system as the treatment 
        works for which such grant was approved is under 
        construction or is to be constructed for use in 
        conjunction with such treatment works, and if the cost 
        of such sewage collection system exceeds the cost of 
        such treatment works, and
          (2) the State water pollution control agency or other 
        appropriate State authority certifies that the quantity 
        of available ground water will be insufficient, 
        inadequate, or unsuitable for public use, including the 
        ecological preservation and recreational use of surface 
        water bodies, unless effluents from publicly-owned 
        treatment works after adequate treatment are returned 
        to the ground water consistent with acceptable 
        technological standards.
  (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, sums allotted 
to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico under section 205 of this 
Act for fiscal year 1981 shall remain available for obligation 
for the fiscal year for which authorized and for the period of 
the next succeeding twenty-four months. Such sums and any 
unobligated funds available to Puerto Rico from allotments for 
fiscal years ending prior to October 1, 1981, shall be 
available for obligation by the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency only to fund the following 
systems: Aguadilla, Arecibo, Mayaguez, Carolina, and Camuy 
Hatillo. These funds may be used by the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico to fund the non-Federal share of the costs of such 
projects. To the extent that these funds are used to pay the 
non-Federal share, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall repay 
to the Environmental Protection Agency such amounts on terms 
and conditions developed and approved by the Administrator in 
consultation with the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico. Agreement on such terms and conditions, including the 
payment of interest to be determined by the Secretary of the 
Treasury, shall be reached prior to the use of these funds for 
the Commonwealth's non-Federal share. No Federal funds awarded 
under this provision shall be used to replace local governments 
funds previously expended on these projects.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 220. PILOT PROGRAM FOR ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCE PROJECTS.

  (a) Policy.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
affect the application of section 101(g) of this Act and all of 
the provisions of this section shall be carried out in 
accordance with the provisions of section 101(g).
  (b) In General.--The Administrator may establish a pilot 
program to make grants to State, interstate, and intrastate 
water resource development agencies (including water management 
districts and water supply authorities), local government 
agencies, private utilities, and nonprofit entities for 
alternative water source projects to meet critical water supply 
needs.
  (c) Eligible Entity.--The Administrator may make grants under 
this section to an entity only if the entity has authority 
under State law to develop or provide water for municipal, 
industrial, and agricultural uses in an area of the State that 
is experiencing critical water supply needs.
  (d) Selection of Projects.--
          [(1) Limitation.--A project that has received funds 
        under the reclamation and reuse program conducted under 
        the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment 
        Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 390h et seq.) shall not be 
        eligible for grant assistance under this section.
          [(2) Additional consideration.--In making grants 
        under this section, the Administrator shall consider 
        whether the project is located within the boundaries of 
        a State or area referred to in section 1 of the 
        Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 385), and 
        within the geographic scope of the reclamation and 
        reuse program conducted under the Reclamation Projects 
        Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 
        390h et seq.).]
          (1) Limitation on eligibility.--A project that has 
        received construction funds under the Reclamation 
        Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 shall 
        not be eligible for grant assistance under this 
        section.
          [(3)] (2) Geographical distribution.--Alternative 
        water source projects selected by the Administrator 
        under this section shall reflect a variety of 
        geographical and environmental conditions.
  [(e) Committee Resolution Procedure.--
          [(1) In general.--No appropriation shall be made for 
        any alternative water source project under this 
        section, the total Federal cost of which exceeds 
        $3,000,000, if such project has not been approved by a 
        resolution adopted by the Committee on Transportation 
        and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives or 
        the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the 
        Senate.
          [(2) Requirements for securing consideration.--For 
        purposes of securing consideration of approval under 
        paragraph (1), the Administrator shall provide to a 
        committee referred to in paragraph (1) such information 
        as the committee requests and the non-Federal sponsor 
        shall provide to the committee information on the costs 
        and relative needs for the alternative water source 
        project.]
  (e) Assistance.--The Administrator shall use not less than 15 
percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to this section in 
a fiscal year to provide assistance to eligible entities for 
projects designed to serve fewer than 10,000 individuals, to 
the extent there are sufficient eligible applications.
  (f) Uses of Grants.--Amounts from grants received under this 
section may be used for engineering, design, construction, and 
final testing of alternative water source projects designed to 
meet critical water supply needs. Such amounts may not be used 
for planning, feasibility studies or for operation, 
maintenance, replacement, repair, or rehabilitation.
  (g) Cost Sharing.--The Federal share of the eligible costs of 
an alternative water source project carried out using 
assistance made available under this section shall not exceed 
50 percent.
  (h) Reports.--On or before September 30, 2004, the 
Administrator shall transmit to Congress a report on the 
results of the pilot program established under this section, 
including progress made toward meeting the critical water 
supply needs of the participants in the pilot program.
  (i) Requirements.--The requirements of section 608 shall 
apply to any construction of an alternative water source 
project carried out using assistance made available under this 
section.
  [(i)] (j) Definitions.--In this section, the following 
definitions apply:
          (1) Alternative water source project.--The term 
        ``alternative water source project'' means a project 
        designed to provide municipal, industrial, and 
        agricultural water supplies in an environmentally 
        sustainable manner by conserving, managing, reclaiming, 
        or reusing water or wastewater [or by treating 
        wastewater] (including stormwater), or by treating 
        wastewater (including stormwater) for groundwater 
        recharge, potable reuse, or other purposes. Such term 
        does not include water treatment or distribution 
        facilities.
          (2) Critical water supply needs.--The term ``critical 
        water supply needs'' means existing or reasonably 
        anticipated future water supply needs that cannot be 
        met by existing water supplies, as identified in a 
        comprehensive statewide or regional water supply plan 
        or assessment projected over a planning period of at 
        least 20 years.
  [(j)] (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section [a 
total of $75,000,000 for fiscal years 2002 through 2004] 
$200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. Such 
sums shall remain available until expended.

SEC. 221. SEWER OVERFLOW AND STORMWATER REUSE MUNICIPAL GRANTS.

  (a) In General.--
          (1) Grants to states.--The Administrator may make 
        grants to States for the purpose of providing grants to 
        a municipality or municipal entity for planning, 
        design, and construction of--
                  (A) treatment works to intercept, transport, 
                control, treat, or reuse municipal combined 
                sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, or 
                stormwater; and
                  (B) any other measures to manage, reduce, 
                treat, or recapture stormwater or subsurface 
                drainage water eligible for assistance under 
                section 603(c).
          (2) Direct municipal grants.--Subject to subsection 
        (g), the Administrator may make a direct grant to a 
        municipality or municipal entity for the purposes 
        described in paragraph (1).
  (b) Prioritization.--In selecting from among municipalities 
applying for grants under subsection (a), a State or the 
Administrator shall give priority to an applicant that--
          (1) is a municipality that is a financially 
        distressed community under subsection (c);
          (2) has implemented or is complying with an 
        implementation schedule for the nine minimum controls 
        specified in the CSO control policy referred to in 
        section 402(q)(1) and has begun implementing a long-
        term municipal combined sewer overflow control plan or 
        a separate sanitary sewer overflow control plan;
          (3) is requesting a grant for a project that is on a 
        State's intended use plan pursuant to section 606(c); 
        or
          (4) is an Alaska Native Village.
  (c) Financially Distressed Community.--
          (1) Definition.--In [subsection (b),] this section, 
        the term ``financially distressed community'' means a 
        community that meets affordability criteria established 
        by the State in which the community is located, if such 
        criteria are developed after public review and comment.
          (2) Consideration of impact on water and sewer 
        rates.--In determining if a community is a distressed 
        community for the purposes of [subsection (b),] this 
        section, the State shall consider, among other factors, 
        the extent to which the rate of growth of a community's 
        tax base has been historically slow such that 
        implementing a plan described in subsection (b)(2) 
        would result in a significant increase in any water or 
        sewer rate charged by the community's publicly owned 
        wastewater treatment facility.
          (3) Information to assist states.--The Administrator 
        may publish information to assist States in 
        establishing affordability criteria under paragraph 
        (1).
  (d) Cost-Sharing.--[The Federal share]
          (1) Federal share._
                  (A) In general._Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost 
                of activities carried out using amounts from a 
                grant made under subsection (a) shall be not 
                less than 55 percent of the cost.[The non-
                Federal share]
                  (B) Financially distressed communities.--The 
                Federal share of the cost of activities carried 
                out using amounts from a grant made to a 
                financially distressed community under 
                subsection (a) shall be not less than 75 
                percent of the cost.
          (2) Non-federal share._The non-Federal share of the 
        cost may include, in any amount, public and private 
        funds and in-kind services, and may include, 
        notwithstanding section 603(h), financial assistance, 
        including loans, from a State water pollution control 
        revolving fund.
  (e) Administrative Requirements.--A project that receives 
assistance under this section shall be carried out subject to 
the same requirements as a project that receives assistance 
from a State water pollution control revolving fund under title 
VI, except to the extent that the Governor of the State in 
which the project is located determines that a requirement of 
title VI is inconsistent with the purposes of this section. For 
the purposes of this subsection, a Governor may not determine 
that the requirements of title VI relating to the application 
of [section 513] section 513, or the requirements of section 
608, are inconsistent with the purposes of this section.
  (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
          (1) In general.--There is authorized to be 
        appropriated to carry out this section $225,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2019 through 2020, and 
        $400,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
        2026.
          (2) Minimum allocations.--To the extent there are 
        sufficient eligible project applications, the 
        Administrator shall ensure that a State uses not less 
        than 20 percent of the amount of the grants made to the 
        State under subsection (a) in a fiscal year to carry 
        out projects to intercept, transport, control, treat, 
        or reuse municipal combined sewer overflows, sanitary 
        sewer overflows, or stormwater through the use of green 
        infrastructure, water and energy efficiency 
        improvements, and other environmentally innovative 
        activities.
          (3) Assistance.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
        Administrator shall ensure that, of the amounts granted 
        to municipalities in a State, not less than 20 percent 
        is granted to municipalities with a population of less 
        than 20,000, to the extent there are sufficient 
        eligible applications.
  (g) Allocation of Funds.--
          (1) Fiscal year 2019.--Subject to subsection (h), the 
        Administrator shall use the amounts appropriated to 
        carry out this section for fiscal year 2019 for making 
        grants to municipalities and municipal entities under 
        subsection (a)(2) in accordance with the criteria set 
        forth in subsection (b).
          (2) Fiscal year 2020 and thereafter.--Subject to 
        subsection (h), the Administrator shall use the amounts 
        appropriated to carry out this section for fiscal year 
        2020 and each fiscal year thereafter for making grants 
        to States under subsection (a)(1) in accordance with a 
        formula to be established by the Administrator, after 
        providing notice and an opportunity for public comment, 
        that allocates to each State a proportional share of 
        such amounts based on the total needs of the State for 
        municipal combined sewer overflow controls, sanitary 
        sewer overflow controls, and stormwater identified in 
        the most recent detailed estimate and comprehensive 
        study submitted pursuant to section 516 and any other 
        information the Administrator considers appropriate.
  (h) Administrative Expenses.--Of the amounts appropriated to 
carry out this section for each fiscal year--
          (1) the Administrator may retain an amount not to 
        exceed 1 percent for the reasonable and necessary costs 
        of administering this section; and
          (2) the Administrator, or a State, may retain an 
        amount not to exceed 4 percent of any grant made to a 
        municipality or municipal entity under subsection (a), 
        for the reasonable and necessary costs of administering 
        the grant.
  (i) Reports.--Not later than December 31, 2003, and 
periodically thereafter, the Administrator shall transmit to 
Congress a report containing recommended funding levels for 
grants under this section. The recommended funding levels shall 
be sufficient to ensure the continued expeditious 
implementation of municipal combined sewer overflow and 
sanitary sewer overflow controls nationwide.

SEC. 222. EMERGING CONTAMINANTS.

  (a) In General.--The Administrator shall award grants to 
owners of publicly owned treatment works to be used for the 
implementation of a pretreatment standard or effluent 
limitation developed pursuant to this Act for the introduction 
into a treatment works, or the discharge of, any pollutant that 
is a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance or any 
pollutant identified by the Administrator as a contaminant of 
emerging concern.
  (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

SEC. 223. HOUSEHOLD WASTEWATER GRANT PROGRAM.

  (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a 
program to provide grants to municipalities or qualified 
nonprofit entities to provide assistance to eligible 
individuals--
          (1) for the construction, repair, or replacement of 
        an individual household decentralized wastewater 
        treatment system;
          (2) for the construction of a decentralized 
        wastewater treatment system designed to provide 
        wastewater treatment for 2 or more households in which 
        eligible individuals reside, if--
                  (A) such a decentralized wastewater treatment 
                system could be cost-effectively constructed; 
                and
                  (B) site conditions at such households are 
                unsuitable for the construction of an 
                individual household decentralized wastewater 
                treatment system; or
          (3) in a case in which an eligible individual resides 
        in a household that could be cost-effectively connected 
        to an available publicly owned treatment works, for the 
        connection of the applicable household to such 
        treatment works.
  (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
this subsection, a municipality or qualified nonprofit entity 
shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Administrator determines to be appropriate.
  (c) Priority.--In providing grants under this section, the 
Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
prioritize applications for activities that will assist 
eligible individuals residing in households that are not 
connected to a system or technology designed to treat domestic 
sewage, including eligible individuals using household 
cesspools.
  (d) Administrative Expenses.--
          (1) In general.--Of the amounts made available under 
        subsection (h), the Administrator may use not more than 
        2 percent for administrative costs.
          (2) Individual grants.--A municipality or qualified 
        nonprofit entity may use grant funds provided under 
        this section to pay the administrative expenses 
        associated with the provision of the assistance to 
        eligible individuals under this section, as the 
        Administrator determines to be appropriate.
  (e) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall submit to 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives a report describing the recipients of grants 
and assistance under this section and the results of the 
program established under this section.
  (f) Application of Other Requirements.--The requirements of 
sections 513 and 608 shall apply to any project for the 
construction, repair, or replacement of a decentralized 
wastewater treatment system, or for the connection of a 
household to a treatment works, for which assistance is 
received under this section.
  (g) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Eligible individual.--The term ``eligible 
        individual'' has the meaning given that term in section 
        603(j).
          (2) Qualified nonprofit entity.--The term ``qualified 
        nonprofit entity'' means an entity determined by the 
        Administrator to be a qualified nonprofit entity for 
        purposes of section 603(c)(12).
  (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

SEC. 224. SMART WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

  (a) Grants.--The Administrator shall establish a program to 
provide grants to municipalities for projects for the planning, 
design, and construction, at publicly owned treatment works, 
of--
          (1) intelligent sewage or stormwater collection 
        systems, including such collection systems that 
        incorporate technologies that rely on--
                  (A) real-time monitoring (including through 
                sensors), embedded intelligence, and predictive 
                maintenance capabilities that improve the 
                energy efficiency, reliability, and resiliency 
                of treatment works; and
                  (B) the use of artificial intelligence and 
                other intelligent optimization tools that 
                reduce operational costs, including operational 
                costs relating to energy consumption and 
                chemical treatment; or
          (2) innovative and alternative combined storm and 
        sanitary sewer projects, including groundwater 
        recharge, that rely on real-time data acquisition to 
        support predictive aquifer recharge through water reuse 
        and stormwater management capabilities.
  (b) Assistance.--The Administrator shall use not less than 20 
percent of the amounts appropriated pursuant to this section in 
a fiscal year to provide assistance to municipalities with a 
population of less than 10,000, to the extent there are 
sufficient eligible applications.
  (c) Cost Share.--
          (1) In general.--The non-Federal share of the costs 
        of an activity carried out using a grant under this 
        section shall be 25 percent.
          (2) Exception.--The Administrator may waive the cost-
        sharing requirement of paragraph (1) if the 
        Administrator determines that the municipality meets 
        the affordability criteria established under section 
        603(i)(2) by the State in which the municipality is 
        located.
  (d) Program Implementation.--
          (1) Guidance.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall 
        issue guidance to municipalities on how to apply for a 
        grant under this section.
          (2) Decision on applications.--Not later than 30 days 
        after the date on which the Administrator receives an 
        application for a grant under this section, the 
        Administrator shall determine whether to provide such 
        grant.
          (3) Application deficiency.--If the Administrator 
        determines that an application for a grant under this 
        section is incomplete, the Administrator shall notify 
        the applicant and provide the applicant the opportunity 
        to resubmit the application.
          (4) Consideration.--In determining whether to provide 
        a grant under this section, the Administrator shall 
        consider the potential positive effects of the project 
        on water quality.
  (e) Compliance With Buy America.--The requirements of section 
608 shall apply to any project for construction for which 
assistance is received under this section.
  (f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the 
Administrator shall submit to Congress a report describing 
projects funded under this section, any related improvement of 
the resiliency of publicly owned treatment works, and 
recommendations to improve the grant program established under 
this section.
  (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated $500,000,000 to carry out this section, to 
remain available until expended.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE V--GENERAL PROVISIONS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



                          reports to congress

  Sec. 516. (a) Within ninety days following the convening of 
each session of Congress, the Administrator shall submit to the 
Congress a report, in addition to any other report required by 
this Act, on measures taken toward implementing the objective 
of this Act, including, but not limited to, (1) the progress 
and problems associated with developing comprehensive plans 
under section 102 of this Act, areawide plans under section 208 
of this Act, basin plans under section 209 of this Act, and 
plans under section 303 (e) of this Act; (2) a summary of 
actions taken and results achieved in the field of water 
pollution control research, experiments, studies, and related 
matters by the Administrator and other Federal agencies and by 
other persons and agencies under Federal grants or contracts; 
(3) the progress and problems associated with the development 
of effluent limitations and recommended control techniques; (4) 
the status of State programs, including a detailed summary of 
the progress obtained as compared to that planned under State 
program plans for development and enforcement of water quality 
requirements; (5) the identification and status of enforcement 
actions pending or completed under such Act during the 
preceding year; (6) the status of State, interstate, and local 
pollution control programs established pursuant to, and 
assisted by, this Act; (7) a summary of the results of the 
survey required to be taken under section 210 of this Act; (8) 
his activities including recommendations under sections 109 
through 111 of this Act; and (9) all reports and 
recommendations made by the Water Pollution Control Advisory 
Board.
  (b)(1) The Administrator, in cooperation with the States, 
including water pollution control agencies and other water 
pollution control planning agencies, shall make (A) a detailed 
estimate of the cost of carrying out the provisions of this 
Act;[(B) a detailed estimate, biennially revised, of the cost 
of construction of all needed publicly owned treatment works in 
all of the States and of the cost of construction of all needed 
publicly owned treatment works in each of the States;] (B) a 
detailed estimate, biennially revised, of the cost of 
construction of all planned publicly owned treatment works in 
all of the States and all needed publicly owned treatment works 
in all of the States, and the cost of construction of all 
planned publicly owned treatment works in each of the States 
and all needed publicly owned treatment works in each of the 
States, which estimates shall include (i) the cost of 
construction to rehabilitate or upgrade all existing publicly 
owned treatment works (excluding any pipe or other device or 
system for the conveyance of wastewater), every 20 years, 
including the costs to implement measures necessary to address 
the resilience and sustainability of publicly owned treatment 
works to manmade or natural disasters, and (ii) the cost of 
construction to replace 10 percent of existing publicly owned 
pipes and other devices and systems for the conveyance of 
wastewater to such treatment works over the 20-year period 
following the date of the estimate; (C) a comprehensive study 
of the economic impact on affected units of government of the 
cost of installation of treatment facilities; and (D) a 
comprehensive analysis of the national requirements for and the 
cost of treating municipal, industrial, and other effluent to 
attain the water quality objectives as established by this Act 
or applicable State law. The Administrator shall submit such 
detailed estimate and such comprehensive study of such cost to 
the Congress no later than February 10 of each odd-numbered 
year. Whenever the Administrator, pursuant to this subsection, 
requests and receives an estimate of cost from a State, he 
shall furnish copies of such estimate together with such 
detailed estimate to Congress.
  (2) Notwithstanding the second sentence of paragraph (1) of 
this subsection, the Administrator shall make a preliminary 
detailed estimate called for by subparagraph (B) of such 
paragraph and shall submit such preliminary detailed estimate 
to the Congress no later than September 3, 1974. The 
Administrator shall require each State to prepare an estimate 
of cost for such State, and shall utilize the survey form EPA-
1, O.M.B. No. 158-R0017, prepared for the 1973 detailed 
estimate, except that such estimate shall include all costs of 
compliance with section 201(g)(2)(A) of this Act and water 
quality standards established pursuant to section 303 of this 
Act, and all costs of treatment works as defined in section 
212(2), including all eligible costs of constructing sewage 
collection systems and correcting excessive infiltration or 
inflow and all eligible costs of correcting combined storm and 
sanitary sewer problems and treating storm water flows. The 
survey form shall be distributed by the Administrator to each 
State no later than January 31, 1974.
  (c) The Administrator shall submit to the Congress by October 
1, 1978, a report on the status of combined sewer overflows in 
municipal treatment works operations. The report shall include 
(1) the status of any projects funded under this Act to address 
combined sewer overflows (2) a listing by State of combined 
sewer overflow needs identified in the 1977 State priority 
listings, (3) an estimate for each applicable municipality of 
the number of years necessary, assuming an annual authorization 
and appropriation for the construction grants program of 
$5,000,000,000, to correct combined sewer overflow problems, 
(4) an analysis using representative municipalities faced with 
major combined sewer overflow needs, of the annual discharges 
of pollutants from overflows in comparison to treated effluent 
discharges, (5) an analysis of the technological alternatives 
available to municipalities to correct major combined sewer 
overflow problems, and (6) any recommendations of the 
Administrator for legislation to address the problem of 
combined sewer overflows, including whether a separate 
authorization and grant program should be established by the 
Congress to address combined sewer overflows.
  (d) The Administrator, in cooperation with the States, 
including water pollution control agencies, and other water 
pollution control planning agencies, and water supply and water 
resources agencies of the States and the United States shall 
submit to Congress, within two years of the date of enactment 
of this section, a report with recommendations for legislation 
on a program to require coordination between water supply and 
wastewater control plans as a condition to grants for 
construction of treatment works under this Act. No such report 
shall be submitted except after opportunity for public hearings 
on such proposed report.
  (e) State Revolving Fund Report.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than February 10, 1990, 
        the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on 
        the financial status and operations of water pollution 
        control revolving funds established by the States under 
        title VI of this Act. The Administrator shall prepare 
        such report in cooperation with the States, including 
        water pollution control agencies and other water 
        pollution control planning and financing agencies.
          (2) Contents.--The report under this subsection shall 
        also include the following:
                  (A) an inventory of the facilities that are 
                in significant noncompliance with the 
                enforceable requirements of this Act;
                  (B) an estimate of the cost of construction 
                necessary to bring such facilities into 
                compliance with such requirements;
                  (C) an assessment of the availability of 
                sources of funds for financing such needed 
                construction, including an estimate of the 
                amount of funds available for providing 
                assistance for such construction through 
                September 30, 1999, from the water pollution 
                control revolving funds established by the 
                States under title VI of this Act;
                  (D) an assessment of the operations, loan 
                portfolio, and loan conditions of such 
                revolving funds;
                  (E) an assessment of the effect on user 
                charges of the assistance provided by such 
                revolving funds compared to the assistance 
                provided with funds appropriated pursuant to 
                section 207 of this Act; and
                  (F) an assessment of the efficiency of the 
                operation and maintenance of treatment works 
                constructed with assistance provided by such 
                revolving funds compared to the efficiency of 
                the operation and maintenance of treatment 
                works constructed with assistance provided 
                under section 201 of this Act.
  (f) Annual Report on Use of Funds.--Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, and annually 
thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate a report that--
          (1) identifies projects that are--
                  (A) described in clause (i) or (ii) of 
                section 602(b)(15)(A); and
                  (B) carried out using funds made available 
                under or pursuant to section 221 or title VI; 
                and
          (2) identifies, to the extent practicable, the costs 
        and benefits of such projects, including any potential 
        short- and long-term cost savings to publicly owned 
        treatment works and any environmental and community 
        benefits of implementing such projects.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 518. INDIAN TRIBES.

  (a) Policy.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
affect the application of section 101(g) of this Act, and all 
of the provisions of this section shall be carried out in 
accordance with the provisions of such section 101(g). Indian 
tribes shall be treated as States for purposes of such section 
101(g).
  (b) Assessment of Sewage Treatment Needs; Report.--The 
Administrator, in cooperation with the Director of the Indian 
Health Service, shall assess the need for sewage treatment 
works to serve Indian tribes, the degree to which such needs 
will be met through funds allotted to States under section 205 
of this Act and priority lists under section 216 of this Act, 
and any obstacles which prevent such needs from being met. Not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
section, the Administrator shall submit a report to Congress on 
the assessment under this subsection, along with 
recommendations specifying (1) how the Administrator intends to 
provide assistance to Indian tribes to develop waste treatment 
management plans and to construct treatment works under this 
Act, and (2) methods by which the participation in and 
administration of programs under this Act by Indian tribes can 
be maximized.
  (c) Reservation of Funds.--
          [(1) Fiscal years 1987-2014.--The Administrator shall 
        reserve each of fiscal years 1987 through 2014, before 
        allotments to the States under section 205(e), one-half 
        of one percent of the sums appropriated under section 
        207.
          [(2) Fiscal year 2015 and thereafter.--For fiscal 
        year 2015 and each fiscal year thereafter, the 
        Administrator shall reserve, before allotments to the 
        States under section 604(a), not less than 0.5 percent 
        and not more than 2.0 percent of the funds made 
        available to carry out title VI.]
          (1) In general.--For each fiscal year, the 
        Administrator shall reserve, of the funds made 
        available to carry out title VI (before allotments to 
        the States under section 604(a)), the greater of--
                  (A) 2 percent of such funds; or
                  (B) $30,000,000.
          (2) Use of funds.--
                  (A) Grants.--Funds reserved under this 
                subsection shall be available only for grants 
                to entities described in paragraph (3) for--
                          (i) projects and activities eligible 
                        for assistance under section 603(c); 
                        and
                          (ii) training, technical assistance, 
                        and educational programs relating to 
                        the operation and management of 
                        treatment works eligible for assistance 
                        pursuant to section 603(c).
                  (B) Limitation.--Not more than $2,000,000 of 
                such reserved funds may be used for grants 
                under subparagraph (A)(ii).
          (3)  [Use of funds] Eligible entities.--Funds 
        reserved under this subsection shall be available only 
        for grants [for projects and activities eligible for 
        assistance under section 603(c) to serve] to--
                  (A) Indian tribes (as defined in subsection 
                (h));
                  (B) former Indian reservations in Oklahoma 
                (as determined by the Secretary of the 
                Interior); and
                  (C) Native villages (as defined in section 3 
                of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
                U.S.C. 1602)).
  (d) Cooperative Agreements.--In order to ensure the 
consistent implementation of the requirements of this Act, an 
Indian tribe and the State or States in which the lands of such 
tribe are located may enter into a cooperative agreement, 
subject to the review and approval of the Administrator, to 
jointly plan and administer the requirements of this Act.
  (e) Treatment as States.--The Administrator is authorized to 
treat an Indian tribe as a State for purposes of title II and 
sections 104, 106, 303, 305, 308, 309, 314, 319, 401, 402, 404, 
and 406 of this Act to the degree necessary to carry out the 
objectives of this section, but only if--
          (1) the Indian tribe has a governing body carrying 
        out substantial governmental duties and powers;
          (2) the functions to be exercised by the Indian tribe 
        pertain to the management and protection of water 
        resources which are held by an Indian tribe, held by 
        the United States in trust for Indians, held by a 
        member of an Indian tribe if such property interest is 
        subject to a trust restriction on alienation, or 
        otherwise within the borders of an Indian reservation; 
        and
          (3) the Indian tribe is reasonably expected to be 
        capable, in the Administrator's judgment, of carrying 
        out the functions to be exercised in a manner 
        consistent with the terms and purposes of this Act and 
        of all applicable regulations.
Such treatment as a State may include the direct provision of 
funds reserved under subsection (c) to the governing bodies of 
Indian tribes, and the determination of priorities by Indian 
tribes, where not determined by the Administrator in 
cooperation with the Director of the Indian Health Service. The 
Administrator, in cooperation with the Director of the Indian 
Health Service, is authorized to make grants under title II of 
this Act in an amount not to exceed 100 percent of the cost of 
a project. Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall, in 
consultation with Indian tribes, promulgate final regulations 
which specify how Indian tribes shall be treated as States for 
purposes of this Act. The Administrator shall, in promulgating 
such regulations, consult affected States sharing common water 
bodies and provide a mechanism for the resolution of any 
unreasonable consequences that may arise as a result of 
differing water quality standards that may be set by States and 
Indian tribes located on common bodies of water. Such mechanism 
shall provide for explicit consideration of relevant factors 
including, but not limited to, the effects of differing water 
quality permit requirements on upstream and downstream 
dischargers, economic impacts, and present and historical uses 
and quality of the waters subject to such standards. Such 
mechanism should provide for the avoidance of such unreasonable 
consequences in a manner consistent with the objective of this 
Act.
  (f) Grants for Nonpoint Source Programs.--The Administrator 
shall make grants to an Indian tribe under section 319 of this 
Act as though such tribe was a State. Not more than one-third 
of one percent of the amount appropriated for any fiscal year 
under section 319 may be used to make grants under this 
subsection. In addition to the requirements of section 319, an 
Indian tribe shall be required to meet the requirements of 
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (d) of this section 
in order to receive such a grant.
  (g) Alaska Native Organizations.--No provision of this Act 
shall be construed to--
          (1) grant, enlarge, or diminish, or in any way affect 
        the scope of the governmental authority, if any, of any 
        Alaska Native organization, including any federally-
        recognized tribe, traditional Alaska Native council, or 
        Native council organized pursuant to the Act of June 
        18, 1934 (48 Stat. 987), over lands or persons in 
        Alaska;
          (2) create or validate any assertion by such 
        organization or any form of governmental authority over 
        lands or persons in Alaska; or
          (3) in any way affect any assertion that Indian 
        country, as defined in section 1151 of title 18, United 
        States Code, exists or does not exist in Alaska.
  (h) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the term--
          (1) ``Federal Indian reservation'' means all land 
        within the limits of any Indian reservation under the 
        jurisdiction of the United States Government, 
        notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, and 
        including rights-of-way running through the 
        reservation; and
          (2) ``Indian tribe'' means any Indian tribe, band, 
        group, or community recognized by the Secretary of the 
        Interior and exercising governmental authority over a 
        Federal Indian reservation.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE VI--STATE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING FUNDS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 602. CAPITALIZATION GRANT AGREEMENTS.

  (a) General Rule.--To receive a capitalization grant with 
funds made available under this title and section 205(m) of 
this Act, a State shall enter into an agreement with the 
Administrator which shall include but not be limited to the 
specifications set forth in subsection (b) of this section.
  (b) Specific Requirements.--The Administrator shall enter 
into an agreement under this section with a State only after 
the State has established to the satisfaction of the 
Administrator that--
          (1) the State will accept grant payments with funds 
        to be made available under this title and section 
        205(m) of this Act in accordance with a payment 
        schedule established jointly by the Administrator under 
        section 601(b) of this Act and will deposit all such 
        payments in the water pollution control revolving fund 
        established by the State in accordance with this title;
          (2) the State will deposit in the fund from State 
        moneys an amount equal to at least 20 percent of the 
        total amount of all capitalization grants which will be 
        made to the State with funds to be made available under 
        this title and section 205(m) of this Act on or before 
        the date on which each quarterly grant payment will be 
        made to the State under this title;
          (3) the State will enter into binding commitments to 
        provide assistance in accordance with the requirements 
        of this title in an amount equal to 120 percent of the 
        amount of each such grant payment within 1 year after 
        the receipt of such grant payment;
          (4) all funds in the fund will be expended in an 
        expeditious and timely manner;
          (5) all funds in the fund as a result of 
        capitalization grants under this title and section 
        205(m) of this Act will first be used to assure 
        maintenance of progress, as determined by the Governor 
        of the State, toward compliance with enforceable 
        deadlines, goals, and requirements of this Act, 
        including the municipal compliance deadline;
          (6) treatment works eligible under this Act which 
        will be constructed in whole or in part with assistance 
        made available by a State water pollution control 
        revolving fund authorized under this title, or section 
        205(m) of this Act, or both, will meet the requirements 
        of, or otherwise be treated (as determined by the 
        Governor of the State) under sections 511(c)(1) and 513 
        of this Act in the same manner as treatment works 
        constructed with assistance under title II of this Act;
          (7) in addition to complying with the requirements of 
        this title, the State will commit or expend each 
        quarterly grant payment which it will receive under 
        this title in accordance with laws and procedures 
        applicable to the commitment or expenditure of revenues 
        of the State;
          (8) in carrying out the requirements of section 606 
        of this Act, the State will use accounting, audit, and 
        fiscal procedures conforming to generally accepted 
        government accounting standards;
          (9) the State will require as a condition of making a 
        loan or providing other assistance, as described in 
        section 603(d) of this Act, from the fund that the 
        recipient of such assistance will maintain project 
        accounts in accordance with generally accepted 
        government accounting standards, including standards 
        relating to the reporting of infrastructure assets;
          (10) the State will make annual reports to the 
        Administrator on the actual use of funds in accordance 
        with section 606(d) of this Act;
          (11) the State will establish, maintain, invest, and 
        credit the fund with repayments, such that the fund 
        balance will be available in perpetuity for activities 
        under this Act;
          (12) any fees charged by the State to recipients of 
        assistance that are considered program income will be 
        used for the purpose of financing the cost of 
        administering the fund or financing projects or 
        activities eligible for assistance from the fund;
          (13) beginning in fiscal year 2016, the State will 
        require as a condition of providing assistance to a 
        municipality or intermunicipal, interstate, or State 
        agency that the recipient of such assistance certify, 
        in a manner determined by the Governor of the State, 
        that the recipient--
                  (A) has studied and evaluated the cost and 
                effectiveness of the processes, materials, 
                techniques, and technologies for carrying out 
                the proposed project or activity for which 
                assistance is sought under this title; and
                  (B) has selected, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, a project or activity that 
                maximizes the potential for efficient water 
                use, reuse, recapture, and conservation, [and 
                energy conservation] and efficient energy use 
                (including through the implementation of 
                technologies to recover and reuse energy 
                produced in the treatment of wastewater), 
                taking into account--
                          (i) the cost of constructing the 
                        project or activity;
                          (ii) the cost of operating and 
                        maintaining the project or activity 
                        over the life of the project or 
                        activity; and
                          (iii) the cost of replacing the 
                        project or activity[; and];
          (14) a contract to be carried out using funds 
        directly made available by a capitalization grant under 
        this title for program management, construction 
        management, feasibility studies, preliminary 
        engineering, design, engineering, surveying, mapping, 
        or architectural related services shall be negotiated 
        in the same manner as a contract for architectural and 
        engineering services is negotiated under chapter 11 of 
        title 40, United States Code, or an equivalent State 
        qualifications-based requirement (as determined by the 
        Governor of the State)[.]; and
          (15) to the extent there are sufficient projects or 
        activities eligible for assistance from the fund, with 
        respect to funds for capitalization grants received by 
        the State under this title and section 205(m)--
                  (A) the State will use--
                          (i) not less than 15 percent of such 
                        funds for green infrastructure, water 
                        or energy efficiency improvements, or 
                        other environmentally innovative 
                        activities; and
                          (ii) not less than 5 percent of such 
                        funds for projects to increase the 
                        resiliency of treatment works to 
                        extreme weather events, drought, sea 
                        level rise, or other impacts of climate 
                        change; and
                  (B) the State will use not less than a total 
                of 20 percent of such funds for projects 
                described in subparagraph (A).
  (c) Corrosion Control.--
          (1) In general.--To the greatest extent practicable, 
        the Administrator shall encourage the incorporation of 
        corrosion prevention activities in projects and 
        activities carried out using financial assistance 
        provided under or pursuant to this title.
          (2) Activities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Administrator, to the greatest extent practicable, 
        shall ensure that any recipient of financial assistance 
        under or pursuant to this title--
                  (A) carries out any project or activity using 
                such assistance using, as applicable--
                          (i) best practices to carry out 
                        corrosion prevention activities in the 
                        field;
                          (ii) industry-recognized standards 
                        and corrosion mitigation and prevention 
                        methods when--
                                  (I) determining protective 
                                coatings;
                                  (II) selecting materials; and
                                  (III) determining methods of 
                                cathodic protection, design, 
                                and engineering for corrosion 
                                prevention;
                          (iii) certified coating application 
                        specialists and cathodic protection 
                        technicians and engineers; and
                          (iv) best practices in environmental 
                        protection to prevent environmental 
                        degradation and to ensure proper 
                        handling of all hazardous materials; 
                        and
                  (B) demonstrates, as applicable--
                          (i) a history of employing industry-
                        certified inspectors to ensure 
                        adherence to best practices and 
                        standards; and
                          (ii) a history of compliance with 
                        applicable requirements of the 
                        Occupational Safety and Health 
                        Administration.
          (3) Corrosion prevention activities defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``corrosion prevention 
        activities'' means--
                  (A) the application and inspection of 
                protective coatings for complex work involving 
                steel and cementitious structures, including 
                structures that will be exposed in immersion;
                  (B) the installation, testing, and inspection 
                of cathodic protection systems; and
                  (C) any other activities related to corrosion 
                prevention the Administrator determines 
                appropriate.

SEC. 603. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS.

  (a) Requirements for Obligation of Grant Funds.--Before a 
State may receive a capitalization grant with funds made 
available under this title and section 205(m) of this Act, the 
State shall first establish a water pollution control revolving 
fund which complies with the requirements of this section.
  (b) Administrator.--Each State water pollution control 
revolving fund shall be administered by an instrumentality of 
the State with such powers and limitations as may be required 
to operate such fund in accordance with the requirements and 
objectives of this Act.
  (c) Projects and Activities Eligible for Assistance.--The 
amounts of funds available to each State water pollution 
control revolving fund shall be used only for providing 
financial assistance--
          (1) to any municipality or intermunicipal, 
        interstate, or State agency for construction of 
        publicly owned treatment works (as defined in section 
        212);
          (2) for the implementation of a management program 
        established under section 319;
          (3) for development and implementation of a 
        conservation and management plan under section 320;
          (4) for the construction, repair, or replacement of 
        decentralized wastewater treatment systems that treat 
        municipal wastewater or domestic sewage;
          (5) for measures to manage, reduce, treat, or 
        recapture stormwater or subsurface drainage water;
          (6) to any municipality or intermunicipal, 
        interstate, or State agency for measures to reduce the 
        demand for publicly owned treatment works capacity 
        through water conservation, efficiency, or reuse;
          (7) for the development and implementation of 
        [watershed] projects meeting the criteria set forth in 
        section 122;
          (8) to any municipality or intermunicipal, 
        interstate, or State agency for measures to reduce the 
        energy consumption needs for publicly owned treatment 
        works;
          (9) for reusing or recycling wastewater, stormwater, 
        or subsurface drainage water;
          (10) for measures to increase the security of 
        publicly owned treatment works, including measures to 
        identify and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities of 
        such treatment works;
          (11) to any qualified nonprofit entity, as determined 
        by the Administrator, to provide assistance to owners 
        and operators of small and medium publicly owned 
        treatment works--
                  (A) to plan, develop, and obtain financing 
                for eligible projects under this subsection, 
                including planning, design, and associated 
                preconstruction activities; and
                  (B) to assist such treatment works in 
                achieving compliance with this Act; and
          (12) to any qualified nonprofit entity, as determined 
        by the Administrator, to provide assistance to an 
        eligible individual (as defined in subsection (j))--
                  (A) for the repair or replacement of existing 
                individual household decentralized wastewater 
                treatment systems; or
                  (B) in a case in which an eligible individual 
                resides in a household that could be cost-
                effectively connected to an available publicly 
                owned treatment works, for the connection of 
                the applicable household to such treatment 
                works.
  (d) Types of Assistance.--Except as otherwise limited by 
State law, a water pollution control revolving fund of a State 
under this section may be used only--
          (1) to make loans, on the condition that--
                  (A) such loans are made at or below market 
                interest rates, including interest free loans, 
                at terms not to exceed the lesser of 30 years 
                and the projected useful life (as determined by 
                the State) of the project to be financed with 
                the proceeds of the loan;
                  (B) annual principal and interest payments 
                will commence not later than 1 year after 
                completion of any project and all loans will be 
                fully amortized upon the expiration of the term 
                of the loan;
                  (C) the recipient of a loan will establish a 
                dedicated source of revenue for repayment of 
                loans;
                  (D) the fund will be credited with all 
                payments of principal and interest on all 
                loans; and
                  (E) for a treatment works proposed for 
                repair, replacement, or expansion, and eligible 
                for assistance under subsection (c)(1), the 
                recipient of a loan shall--
                          (i) develop and implement a fiscal 
                        sustainability plan that includes--
                                  (I) an inventory of critical 
                                assets that are a part of the 
                                treatment works;
                                  (II) an evaluation of the 
                                condition and performance of 
                                inventoried assets or asset 
                                groupings;
                                  (III) a certification that 
                                the recipient has evaluated and 
                                will be implementing water and 
                                energy conservation efforts as 
                                part of the plan; and
                                  (IV) a plan for maintaining, 
                                repairing, and, as necessary, 
                                replacing the treatment works 
                                and a plan for funding such 
                                activities; or
                          (ii) certify that the recipient has 
                        developed and implemented a plan that 
                        meets the requirements under clause 
                        (i);
          (2) to buy or refinance the debt obligation of 
        municipalities and intermunicipal and interstate 
        agencies within the State at or below market rates, 
        where such debt obligations were incurred after March 
        7, 1985;
          (3) to guarantee, or purchase insurance for, local 
        obligations where such action would improve credit 
        market access or reduce interest rates;
          (4) as a source of revenue or security for the 
        payment of principal and interest on revenue or general 
        obligation bonds issued by the State if the proceeds of 
        the sale of such bonds will be deposited in the fund;
          (5) to provide loan guarantees for similar revolving 
        funds established by municipalities or intermunicipal 
        agencies;
          (6) to earn interest on fund accounts; and
          (7) for the reasonable costs of administering the 
        fund and conducting activities under this title, except 
        that such amounts shall not exceed 4 percent of all 
        grant awards to such fund under this title, $400,000 
        per year, or \1/5\ percent per year of the current 
        valuation of the fund, whichever amount is greatest, 
        plus the amount of any fees collected by the State for 
        such purpose regardless of the source.
  (e) Limitation To Prevent Double Benefits.--If a State makes, 
from its water pollution revolving fund, a loan which will 
finance the cost of facility planning and the preparation of 
plans, specifications, and estimates for construction of 
publicly owned treatment works, the State shall ensure that if 
the recipient of such loan receives a grant under section 
201(g) of this Act for construction of such treatment works and 
an allowance under section 201(l)(1) of this Act for non-
federal funds expended for such planning and preparation, such 
recipient will promptly repay such loan to the extent of such 
allowance.
  (f) Consistency With Planning Requirements.--A State may 
provide financial assistance from its water pollution control 
revolving fund only with respect to a project which is 
consistent with plans, if any, developed under sections 205(j), 
208, 303(e), 319, and 320 of this Act.
  (g) Priority List Requirement.--The State may provide 
financial assistance from its water pollution control revolving 
fund only with respect to a project for construction of a 
treatment works described in subsection (c)(1) if such project 
is on the State's priority list under section 216 of this Act. 
Such assistance may be provided regardless of the rank of such 
project on such list.
  (h) Eligibility of Non-Federal Share of Construction Grant 
Projects.--A State water pollution control revolving fund may 
provide assistance (other than under subsection (d)(1) of this 
section) to a municipality or intermunicipal or interstate 
agency with respect to the non-Federal share of the costs of a 
treatment works project for which such municipality or agency 
is receiving assistance from the Administrator under any other 
authority only if such assistance is necessary to allow such 
project to proceed.
  (i) Additional Subsidization.--
          (1) In general.--In any case in which a State 
        provides assistance to an eligible recipient under 
        subsection (d), the State may provide additional 
        subsidization[, including forgiveness of principal and 
        negative interest loans] (including in the form of 
        forgiveness of principal, negative interest loans, or 
        grants)--
                  (A) [in assistance] to a municipality or 
                intermunicipal, interstate, or State agency to 
                benefit a municipality that--
                          (i) meets the affordability criteria 
                        of the State established under 
                        paragraph (2); or
                          (ii) does not meet the affordability 
                        criteria of the State if the 
                        recipient--
                                  (I) seeks additional 
                                subsidization to benefit 
                                individual ratepayers in the 
                                residential user rate class;
                                  (II) demonstrates to the 
                                State that such ratepayers will 
                                experience a significant 
                                hardship from the increase in 
                                rates necessary to finance the 
                                project or activity for which 
                                assistance is sought; and
                                  (III) ensures, as part of an 
                                assistance agreement between 
                                the State and the recipient, 
                                that the additional 
                                subsidization provided under 
                                this paragraph is directed 
                                through a user charge rate 
                                system (or other appropriate 
                                method) [to such ratepayers] to 
                                help such ratepayers maintain 
                                access to wastewater (including 
                                stormwater) treatment services; 
                                or
                  (B) to implement a process, material, 
                technique, or technology--
                          (i) to address water-efficiency 
                        goals;
                          (ii) to address energy-efficiency 
                        goals;
                          (iii) to mitigate stormwater runoff; 
                        or
                          (iv) to encourage sustainable project 
                        planning, design, and construction.
          (2) Affordability criteria.--
                  (A) Establishment.--
                          (i) In general.--Not later than 
                        September 30, 2015, and after providing 
                        notice and an opportunity for public 
                        comment, a State shall establish 
                        affordability criteria to assist in 
                        identifying municipalities that would 
                        experience a significant hardship 
                        raising the revenue necessary to 
                        finance a project or activity eligible 
                        for assistance under subsection (c)(1) 
                        if additional subsidization is not 
                        provided.
                          (ii) Contents.--The criteria under 
                        clause (i) shall be based on income and 
                        unemployment data, population trends, 
                        and other data determined relevant by 
                        the State, including whether the 
                        project or activity is to be carried 
                        out in an economically distressed area, 
                        as described in section 301 of the 
                        Public Works and Economic Development 
                        Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3161).
                  (B) Existing criteria.--If a State has 
                previously established, after providing notice 
                and an opportunity for public comment, 
                affordability criteria that meet the 
                requirements of subparagraph (A)--
                          (i) the State may use the criteria 
                        for the purposes of this subsection; 
                        and
                          (ii) those criteria shall be treated 
                        as affordability criteria established 
                        under this paragraph.
                  (C) Information to assist states.--The 
                Administrator may publish information to assist 
                States in establishing affordability criteria 
                under subparagraph (A).
          [(3) Limitations.--
                  [(A) In general.--A State may provide 
                additional subsidization in a fiscal year under 
                this subsection only if the total amount 
                appropriated for making capitalization grants 
                to all States under this title for the fiscal 
                year exceeds $1,000,000,000.
                  [(B) Additional limitation.--
                          [(i) General rule.--Subject to clause 
                        (ii), a State may use not more than 30 
                        percent of the total amount received by 
                        the State in capitalization grants 
                        under this title for a fiscal year for 
                        providing additional subsidization 
                        under this subsection.
                          [(ii) Exception.--If, in a fiscal 
                        year, the amount appropriated for 
                        making capitalization grants to all 
                        States under this title exceeds 
                        $1,000,000,000 by a percentage that is 
                        less than 30 percent, clause (i) shall 
                        be applied by substituting that 
                        percentage for 30 percent.
                  [(C) Applicability.--The authority of a State 
                to provide additional subsidization under this 
                subsection shall apply to amounts received by 
                the State in capitalization grants under this 
                title for fiscal years beginning after 
                September 30, 2014.
                  [(D) Consideration.--If the State provides 
                additional subsidization to a municipality or 
                intermunicipal, interstate, or State agency 
                under this subsection that meets the criteria 
                under paragraph (1)(A), the State shall take 
                the criteria set forth in section 602(b)(5) 
                into consideration.]
          (3) Subsidization amounts.--
                  (A) In general.--A State may use for 
                providing additional subsidization in a fiscal 
                year under this subsection an amount that does 
                not exceed the greater of--
                          (i) 50 percent of the total amount 
                        received by the State in capitalization 
                        grants under this title for the fiscal 
                        year; or
                          (ii) the annual average over the 
                        previous 10 fiscal years of the amounts 
                        deposited by the State in the State 
                        water pollution control revolving fund 
                        from State moneys that exceed the 
                        amounts required to be so deposited 
                        under section 602(b)(2).
                  (B) Minimum.--To the extent there are 
                sufficient applications for additional 
                subsidization under this subsection that meet 
                the criteria under paragraph (1)(A), a State 
                shall use for providing additional 
                subsidization in a fiscal year under this 
                subsection an amount that is not less than 20 
                percent of the total amount received by the 
                State in capitalization grants under this title 
                for the fiscal year.
  (j) Definition of Eligible Individual.--In subsection 
(c)(12), the term ``eligible individual'' means a member of a 
household, the members of which have a combined income (for the 
most recent 12-month period for which information is available) 
equal to not more than 50 percent of the median nonmetropolitan 
household income for the State in which the household is 
located, according to the most recent decennial census.

SEC. 604. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS.

  (a) Formula.--Sums authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section for [each of fiscal years 1989 and 1990] each 
fiscal year shall be allotted by the Administrator in 
accordance with section 205(c) of this Act.
  (b) Reservation of Funds for Planning.--Each State shall 
reserve each fiscal year 1 percent of the sums allotted to such 
State under this section for such fiscal year, or $100,000, 
whichever amount is greater, to carry out planning under 
sections 205(j) and 303(e) of this Act.
  (c) Allotment Period.--
          (1) Period of availability for grant award.--Sums 
        allotted to a State under this section for a fiscal 
        year shall be available for obligation by the State 
        during the fiscal year for which sums are authorized 
        and during the following fiscal year.
          (2) Reallotment of unobligated funds.--The amount of 
        any allotment not obligated by the State by the last 
        day of the 2-year period of availability established by 
        paragraph (1) shall be immediately reallotted by the 
        Administrator on the basis of the same ratio as is 
        applicable to sums allotted under title II of this Act 
        for the second fiscal year of such 2-year period. None 
        of the funds reallotted by the Administrator shall be 
        reallotted to any State which has not obligated all 
        sums allotted to such State in the first fiscal year of 
        such 2-year period.
  (d) Wastewater Infrastructure Workforce Development.--Each 
fiscal year, a State may reserve up to 1 percent of the sums 
allotted to the State under this section for the fiscal year to 
carry out workforce development, training, and retraining 
activities described in section 104(g).
  (e) Needs Survey.--Each fiscal year, a State may reserve up 
to 0.5 percent of the sums allotted to the State under this 
section for the fiscal year to carry out activities under 
section 516(b)(1)(B).
  (f) Funds Allotted to Puerto Rico.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, no funds allotted to the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico under this section may be counted as income or an 
asset of the owner or operator of a publicly owned treatment 
works receiving such funds, or be used, set aside, or otherwise 
made available for the purposes of payment of debt 
restructuring under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and 
Economic Stability Act (48 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) by the Puerto 
Rico Financial Oversight and Management Board.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


[SEC. 607. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

   [There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the 
purposes of this title the following sums:
          [(1) $1,200,000,000 per fiscal year for each of 
        fiscal year 1989 and 1990;
          [(2) $2,400,000,000 for fiscal year 1991;
          [(3) $1,800,000,000 for fiscal year 1992;
          [(4) $1,200,000,000 for fiscal year 1993; and
          [(5) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 1994.]

SEC. 607. RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

  (a) In General.--
          (1) Reservation.--For each fiscal year, the 
        Administrator shall reserve 1.5 percent of available 
        funds, as determined under paragraph (2).
          (2) Available funds.--For purposes of paragraph (1), 
        the amount of available funds for a fiscal year is--
                  (A) the amount of funds made available to 
                carry out this title for the fiscal year 
                (before allotments to the States under section 
                604(a)); less
                  (B) the amount of any funds reserved under 
                section 518(c) for the fiscal year.
  (b) Use of Funds.--Funds reserved under this section shall be 
available only for grants to American Samoa, the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands 
for projects and activities eligible for assistance under 
section 603(c).
  (c) Limitation.--American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands may not 
receive funds allotted under section 604(a).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 609. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
title the following sums:
          (1) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
          (2) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.
          (3) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
          (4) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
          (5) $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
                              ----------                              


                  WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT ACT




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 4. MUNICIPAL OMBUDSMAN.

  (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Office of 
the Administrator an Office of the Municipal Ombudsman, to be 
headed by a Municipal Ombudsman.
  (b) General Duties.--The duties of the Municipal Ombudsman 
shall include the provision of--
          [(1) technical assistance to municipalities seeking 
        to comply with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; 
        and]
          (1) technical and planning assistance to support 
        municipalities, including municipalities that are 
        rural, small, economically disadvantaged, or Tribal 
        communities, in achieving and maintaining compliance 
        with enforceable deadlines, goals, and requirements of 
        the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; and
          (2) information to the Administrator to help the 
        Administrator ensure that agency policies are 
        implemented by all offices of the Environmental 
        Protection Agency, including regional offices.
  (c) Actions Required.--The Municipal Ombudsman shall work 
with appropriate offices at the headquarters and regional 
offices of the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that a 
municipality seeking assistance is provided information 
regarding--
          (1) available Federal financial assistance for which 
        the municipality is eligible;
          (2) flexibility available under the Federal Water 
        Pollution Control Act; and
          (3) the opportunity to develop an integrated plan 
        under section 402(s) of the Federal Water Pollution 
        Control Act.
  (d) Information Sharing.--The Municipal Ombudsman shall 
publish on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency--
          (1) general information relating to--
                  (A) the technical assistance referred to in 
                subsection (b)(1);
                  (B) the financial assistance referred to in 
                subsection (c)(1);
                  (C) the flexibility referred to in subsection 
                (c)(2); and
                  (D) any resources developed by the 
                Administrator related to integrated plans under 
                section 402(s) of the Federal Water Pollution 
                Control Act; and
          (2) a copy of each permit, order, or judicial consent 
        decree that implements or incorporates such an 
        integrated plan.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                             MINORITY VIEWS

    Committee Republicans oppose H.R. 1915, the Water Quality 
Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021, as amended. As drafted 
and reported by the Committee Majority, this legislation fails 
to provide states and municipalities with the flexibility and 
tools needed to achieve and protect clean water. The Majority's 
partisan bill glaringly ignores long-overdue permitting reform, 
tries to hide the imposition of increased mandates on states 
and municipalities by inflating to unrealistic and 
unsustainable levels several water funding provisions in the 
Clean Water Act (CWA), and--most importantly--walks away from a 
carefully crafted bipartisan agreement on CWA legislation that 
the Committee agreed to in the 116th Congress.
    The shortcomings of the Majority's partisan legislation are 
particularly disappointing considering last Congress' 
bipartisanship on H.R. 1497, the Water Quality Protection and 
Job Creation Act of 2019, as amended. That bill, which was once 
celebrated by the Majority as a means of renewing the Federal 
government's commitment to invest in wastewater infrastructure 
and address local water quality needs, contained common-sense 
regulatory relief, authorized a realistic level of funding, and 
provided for small and rural communities' water infrastructure 
needs.\1\ The Committee moved that legislation with 
overwhelming bipartisan support.
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    \1\Markup of H.R. 1497, the Water Quality and Job Creation Act of 
2019, Before the H. Comm. on Transportation and Infrastructure, (Oct. 
29, 2019) (116th Cong.) (statement of the Chair Peter DeFazio).
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    Now, the Majority has made it clear that they are unwilling 
to stick to our bipartisan agreement on clean water 
infrastructure this Congress, even though Committee Republicans 
have been ready to bring our priorities to the table, discuss 
them alongside the Majority's priorities, and find common 
ground. Surely there was common ground to be found, both on 
providing robust but realistic funding levels and finding ways 
to relieve some of the burdens that communities face. But 
instead, the Majority has decided to authorize unrealistically 
high spending levels that will never get funded, and refuse to 
provide states and municipalities the tools they need to 
effectively and efficiently achieve and protect clean water.
    As a result of the unwillingness of the Majority to come to 
a bipartisan agreement this Congress, on May 13, 2021, 
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Ranking Member 
David Rouzer (NC-07) introduced H.R. 3218, the Wastewater 
Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2021. This bill is closely 
based on the bipartisan agreement reached and reported out of 
Committee in the 116th Congress with H.R. 1497, as amended. It 
stands in stark contrast to the Majority's bill, by including 
provisions supported by states and municipalities that will 
help give them the flexibility to meet their unique needs.
    For example, H.R. 3218 updates section 402 of the CWA, 
authorizing states to issue National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) discharge permits to states and 
municipalities with permit terms of up to 10 years in duration. 
Current law limits the duration of an NPDES permit to only five 
years. Longer term permits would provide flexibility to permit 
writers and help reduce the costs of compliance for local clean 
water agencies, while protecting human health and improving our 
Nation's waters. Longer term permits would recognize that the 
complexity and time required for a municipality to plan, 
finance, and construct a modern clean water treatment facility 
can stretch out beyond the existing five-year permit term 
horizon, and extend to as long as a decade. They also would 
accommodate consent orders and decrees containing compliance 
schedules, and long-term control plans that frequently extend 
for years beyond existing five-year permit terms. Currently, 
state clean water agencies and the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) are forced to renew permits every five years, even 
if the permitted project has yet to become operational or 
circumstances have not fundamentally changed. Providing 
agencies with the discretionary authority to extend NPDES 
permit terms to up to 10 years would maximize the use of scarce 
local, state, and Federal infrastructure resources without 
jeopardizing public health or the environment.
    The Honorable Dave Berger, Mayor of Lima, Ohio (testifying 
on behalf of the United States Conference of Mayors), called on 
Congress and the President to address this by ``[c]hang[ing] 
the current Clean Water Act law to allow cities to have 10-
year, rather than five-year, treatment works permit terms,'' 
and by ``[i]mplement[ing] the Integrated Planning Permit law to 
ensure cities and their customers are not overly financially 
burdened and to allow cities maximum flexibility to address 
specific challenges in a smart, prioritized manner.''\2\ 
Nevertheless, rather than providing greater flexibility, the 
Majority wants to uphold the restriction of NPDES permit 
writers to issue longer term permits, or even to 
administratively continue existing permits, thereby limiting 
the discretion and flexibility of permit writers in issuing and 
reissuing permits.
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    \2\Building Back Better: The Urgent Need for Infrastructure 
Investment in America's Wastewater Infrastructure Before the Subcomm. 
on Water Resources and Environment of the H. Comm. on Transportation 
and Infrastructure, 117th Cong. (Feb. 23, 2021) (statement of the Hon. 
Dave Berger, Mayor of Lima, on behalf of the United States Conference 
of Mayors).
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    In addition, Committee Republicans' alternative, H.R. 3218, 
would provide additional flexibility for municipalities to 
fully take advantage of the EPA's CWA grant and financing 
programs for wastewater infrastructure. In contrast, the 
Majority's bill fails to provide such flexibility for 
municipalities, and instead, places additional burdensome 
restrictions on how these programs must be administered and 
funds utilized.
    For example, H.R. 1915, as amended, mandates that states 
spend no less than 15 percent of their Clean Water State 
Revolving Fund (CWSRF) funding grants on green infrastructure 
[known as the ``Green Project Reserve'' (GPR)], as well as an 
additional five percent on resiliency projects, for an overall 
20 percent mandate. These mandates double the traditional set-
aside authorized through annual appropriations legislation.\3\ 
Committee Republicans are opposed to increasing Federal 
mandates for the CWSRF in such a manner, as it displaces 
funding for the wastewater infrastructure priorities of states 
and local communities and jeopardizes their ability to fund and 
complete higher priority projects that better protect human 
health and the environment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\See, e.g., Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, (P.L. 116-
260).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Many municipalities are unable to fully meet the green 
project reserve mandate on an annual basis, as these types of 
green infrastructure projects take longer to develop and build 
and not all green projects qualify for a loan under the CWSRF 
program.\4\ According to the Council on Infrastructure 
Financing Authorities (CIFA), which is the primary group 
representing the states' infrastructure financing authorities 
and their participation in the CWSRF program, mandated spending 
set-asides like this are unnecessary.\5\ CIFA notes that, when 
this green project mandate is applied to cumulative (rather 
than annual) Federal funding, every state program has exceeded 
the 10 percent mandate and 36 out of 51 programs have used 
double the amount of mandated funding, so mandated set-asides 
are unnecessary.\6\ Regardless of the GPR mandate, states have 
continued to implement green infrastructure projects despite 
not meeting its arbitrary requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure: Measures to Promote 
Resiliency and Climate Adaptation and Mitigation: Hearing before 
Subcomm. on Water Resources and Environment of the H. Comm. on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, 117th Cong. (Apr. 21, 2021) 
(Statement of Kim Colson, Dir., Division of Water Infrastructure, NC 
DEQ, on behalf of CIFA).
    \5\Letter from CIFA to the Hon. David Rouzer, Ranking Member, 
Subcomm. On Water Resources and Environment of the H. Comm. on 
Transportation and Infrastructure (Jun. 7, 2021) (on file with 
Committee).
    \6\Id.
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    In comparison, H.R. 3218 would maintain only the existing 
10 percent ``Green Project Reserve'' requirement and instead 
expand the category of eligible projects that qualify under the 
set-aside, including those that improve resiliency of treatment 
works. These provisions provide consistency with what Congress 
has approved in the GPR programs and provide greater 
flexibility for states to best serve the needs of their 
communities.
    Finally, H.R. 1915, as amended, authorizes unrealistic and 
unsustainable funding levels for CWA programs. The bill 
authorizes approximately $52 billion in funding, which includes 
about $40 billion for the CWSRF and $12 billion for grant 
programs. Committee Republicans believe in investing in our 
Nation's aging wastewater infrastructure, which is why a 
bipartisan agreement with the Majority in the 116th Congress 
was reached to authorize over $16.65 billion over five years 
for CWA wastewater infrastructure programs, including $14 
billion for the CWSRF and $2.6 billion for grant programs.
    Despite the bipartisan achievement just last Congress, the 
Majority has dramatically shifted its baseline for authorizing 
funding for wastewater infrastructure programs. In contrast to 
the partisan action taken by the Majority, the Senate has 
embraced a bipartisan approach and recently passed bipartisan 
legislation to reauthorize wastewater infrastructure programs 
that is similar to the Committee Republicans' bill. The 
bipartisan Senate bill, S. 914, passed 89-2 on April 29, 2021, 
and authorizes more than $18 billion, including $14.6 billion 
for the CWSRF and $4 billion for grant programs. This is very 
similar to the funding levels found in both the bipartisan H.R. 
1497 in the 116th Congress and the Committee Republicans' H.R. 
3218 from May 2021.
    The Members of this Committee know that a bipartisan 
agreement is the only way we are going to improve water 
infrastructure. The American people deserve bipartisan 
cooperation in Congress and effective wastewater 
infrastructure. We saw this when the Senate took cooperative 
action to pass S. 914. The Majority should be standing by the 
bipartisan agreement they reached with Committee Republicans on 
H.R. 1497, and working with Committee Republicans and all 
interested stakeholders on any issues that remain outstanding.
    Committee Republicans agree on the need to improve and 
maintain America's wastewater infrastructure. However, if the 
Majority is serious about achieving this goal, they would have 
remained supportive of the bipartisan agreement reached in the 
116th Congress or maintained an open dialogue to work together 
on issues on importance to both sides with the common goal of 
achieving and protecting clean water. Unfortunately, this did 
not occur, and Committee Republicans oppose this legislation.

                                   Sam Graves,
                                           Ranking Member.
                                   Bob Gibbs,
                                           Ranking Member, Subcommittee 
                                               on Coast Guard and 
                                               Maritime Transportation.
                                   Rodney Davis,
                                           Ranking Member, Subcommittee 
                                               on Highways and Transit.
                                   David Rouzer,
                                           Ranking Member, Subcommittee 
                                               on Water Resources and 
                                               the Environment.
                                   Daniel Webster,
                                           Ranking Member, Subcommittee 
                                               on Economic Development, 
                                               Public Buildings, and 
                                               Emergency Management.
                                   Eric A. ``Rick'' Crawford,
                                           Ranking Member, Subcommittee 
                                               on Railroads, Pipelines, 
                                               and Hazardous Materials.

                                  [all]