To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify provisions relating to rural decentralized water systems grants.
Sponsored By: Representative Sewell
Introduced
Summary
Expand grant and loan support for individual household water and wastewater systems in rural areas. This bill would tie assistance to local income levels, raise the award cap, allow funds for multi-year warranties, and extend the program through 2031.
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- Families and households: Households with income below 60 percent of the area's median nonmetropolitan household income would be eligible for subgrants. Households at or above 60 percent could get loans and awards may reach up to $20,000 and cover a performance warranty lasting at least 5 years for decentralized wastewater systems.
- Nonprofit organizations: Private nonprofit groups could receive grants from the Secretary to make those subgrants and loans within their service areas.
- Rural communities and systems: Funding would support construction, refurbishing, and servicing of individually owned household water wells and decentralized wastewater systems and keeps the program authorized through 2031.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More water-system help for rural homeowners
If enacted, the bill would let the USDA Secretary give grants to private nonprofit groups. Those nonprofits would make subgrants and loans to rural homeowners. You would be able to get help to build, refurbish, or service a private water well or a household decentralized wastewater system you own. Subgrants would be for households with combined income below 60% of the area's nonmetropolitan median household income, using the most recent decennial census and the most recent 12-month income. Households with income at or above 60% would be offered loans instead of grants. The bill would raise the per-household assistance cap to $20,000 and allow grant funds to pay for a performance warranty of at least five years. The program's authority would be extended through 2031.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sewell
AL • D
Cosponsors
Rogers (AL)
AL • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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