HR 1427
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1427
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize technical assistance
to small public water systems, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 7, 2011
Mr. HARPER (for himself, Mr. MATHESON, Mr. JONES, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mr. NUNNELEE,
Mr. PETERSON, Mr. FILNER, Mr. BLUMENAUER, and Mr. PALAZZO) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize technical assistance
to small public water systems, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems
Assistance Act of 2011'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act authorized technical
assistance for small and rural communities to assist them with compliance
with rules and regulations promulgated under the Act. Technical assistance
and compliance training ensures that Federal regulations do not overwhelm
small and rural communities' resources. It also allows small communities
lacking technical resources access to assistance necessary to improve and
protect their water resources.
(2) Across the States, over 90 percent of the community water systems serve
a population of less than 10,000. Small communities have the greatest difficulty
providing safe, affordable public drinking water and wastewater services
due to limited economies of scale and less technical expertise.
(3) In addition to being the main source of compliance assistance, rural
water technical assistance has been the main source of assistance in emergency
response in small and rural communities.
(4) Technical assistance ensures that Federal regulations do not overwhelm
small and rural communities' resources. It also allows small communities
lacking technical resources access to assistance necessary to improve and
protect their water resources.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) to most effectively assist small communities, the Environmental Protection
Agency should prioritize the type of technical assistance that small communities
find is the most beneficial;
(2) it is essential for the Environmental Protection Agency to consider
and prioritize the type and manner of technical assistance that has the
most support of each State's local communities; and
(3) local support is the fundamental key to making the Federal funding (the
Federal assistance initiatives) work in small and rural communities to the
maximum benefit.
SEC. 4. FUNDING PRIORITIES.
Section 1442(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-1(e)) is amended
as follows:
(1) In the fifth sentence by striking `1997 through 2003' and inserting
`2011 through 2016'.
(2) By inserting `(1)' immediately before the first sentence.
(3) By adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(2) The Administrator may provide technical assistance, with funds under
this subsection, to nonprofit organizations providing onsite technical assistance,
circuit-rider technical assistance programs, onsite and regional training,
assistance with implementing source water protection plans, and assistance
with implementation monitoring plans, rules, regulations, and water security
enhancements. To assure technical assistance funding under this subsection
is used in a manner most beneficial to small and rural communities in each
State, the Administrator shall give preference to nonprofit organizations
that, as determined by the Administrator, are the most qualified, experienced,
effective, and most supported by small community water systems in the States.'.
END
