A “Clean Water Affordability Act” (H.R. 3862) introduced in the House of Representatives this month by Reps. Bob Latta (R-Oh.) and Tim Walz (D-Minn.) aims to ease the burden of wastewater infrastructure project costs on communities.
Among other reforms the bill would codify EPA’s integrated planning framework, require the agency to broaden its financial capability determinations, and extend the Clean Water SRF loan repayment period from 20 years to 30 years. The bill would permanently allow states to use up to 30 percent of their annual share of CWSRF funds as additional subsidization in the form of grants, negative-interest loans, or principal forgiveness for struggling communities.
H.R. 3862 has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has announced no timetable for its consideration.