A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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, known as the "Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act," aims to establish the Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Assistance Program. This program provides grants to help people improve the quality of their drinking water using point-of-entry or point-of-use products. It targets rural areas where individuals may be facing challenges from contaminants like lead, arsenic, or nitrates. Grants can cover the purchase, installation, maintenance, and testing of these water improvement systems. The bill establishes specific definitions for what qualifies as an eligible product, end user, and installer. Finally, it authorizes $10,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out these efforts.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill provides grants to households with incomes below 150 percent of the state median nonmetropolitan income.
- Scored +6
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The program is designed to prioritize and assist residents in rural areas facing water quality challenges.
- Scored +5
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill specifically targets rural areas for drinking water quality assistance.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes $10,000,000 in annual spending for the new grant program.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Immediate Relief from Water Contamination: The bill provides a way to address water quality challenges quickly through point-of-entry or point-of-use products while larger infrastructure projects are being completed (Section 2, Finding 5 and 6).
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Financial Assistance for Water Improvements: Grants can be used for the purchase and installation of water quality improvement products, replacement of filter components, ongoing maintenance, and water quality testing (Section 3(c)(1)).
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Support for Diverse Housing Situations: The program assists various types of residents, including homeowners, renters, and property owners of small multi-unit residential buildings (Section 3(a)(5)).
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Targeted Help for Rural and Private Well Users: The program is designed to prioritize funding for end users whose drinking water comes from private wells (Section 3(f)(2)).
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Empowerment Through Information: Nonprofit organizations can use grants to help people understand their water test results and choose the best response options for their specific needs (Section 3(c)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Income Restrictions on Assistance: Grants cannot be used to help households or individuals whose income exceeds 150 percent of the median nonmetropolitan household income for their specific State or territory (Section 3(d)(2)).
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 households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides grants to households with incomes below 150 percent of the state median nonmetropolitan income. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The program is designed to prioritize and assist residents in rural areas facing water quality challenges. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill offers financial aid for water quality improvements to those below a certain income threshold.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill specifically targets rural areas for drinking water quality assistance.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill improves public health by providing resources to remove contaminants from drinking water.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill provides financial assistance for water quality improvements to low-income households.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes $10,000,000 in annual spending for the new grant program.
- 5/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/24/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan