Donald Davis (D-NC)
Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2026," proposes amendments to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. It aims to provide more help to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems. The Secretary is authorized to provide grants, zero percent interest loans, or one percent interest loans to eligible entities. Additionally, the Secretary may modify existing loans or refinance other loans under specific conditions. Assistance can be used to maintain public health, safety, or order, or to address financial hardships in certain areas.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill provides direct financial and structural support to improve water and waste systems in rural areas.
- Scored +6
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill specifically provides grants and low-interest loans to support the infrastructure of rural water and waste facilities.
- Scored +5
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill provides financial assistance to rural water and waste systems to maintain public health and safety.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Relief for Water Systems: The Secretary can provide grants, zero percent interest loans, or one percent interest loans to eligible entities (Section 2, subsection b(1)). This provides direct financial aid to rural water and waste facilities.
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Loan Flexibility: The Secretary has the power to forgive principal or interest, modify terms, or refinance existing loans (Section 2, subsection b(2)). This could help stabilize systems that are already carrying debt.
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Public Health and Safety: Assistance can be used to ensure an entity has the resources to maintain public health, safety, or order (Section 2, subsection c(1)).
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Support for Distressed Areas: The bill allows for assistance to address financial hardships if the entity is located in a disadvantaged or economically distressed area (Section 2, subsection c(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limitations on Loan Assistance: There is a restriction preventing the Secretary from providing assistance under the loan modification/refinancing paragraph for loans provided under the new grant/loan paragraph (Section 2, subsection b(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides direct financial and structural support to improve water and waste systems in rural areas. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill assists entities in disadvantaged areas to ensure affordable water services for residents. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill aims to stabilize the costs of essential water services through federal assistance.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill specifically provides grants and low-interest loans to support the infrastructure of rural water and waste facilities. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill funds rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems which are essential for environmental safety.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By addressing the cost of water services relative to median household income, the bill helps mitigate financial burdens on low-income households. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill provides targeted assistance to disadvantaged or economically distressed areas to improve water service affordability.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill provides financial assistance to rural water and waste systems to maintain public health and safety.
- 3/20/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
- 2/12/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Dusty JohnsonRepublican · South Dakota