Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
In Committee
Summary
Creates a dedicated Trust Fund to finance water and sewer infrastructure and related programs. It directs new federal revenue into grants, loan subsidies, workforce training, and expanded drinking water programs through a Treasury trust.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
More subsidies and uses for water loans
If enacted, States could use water and sewer funds to buy private systems and to cancel costly management contracts. States would have to use at least 50% of their annual capitalization grant for subsidized loans, with the drinking water side tied to having enough applications. Public systems could get grants to replace lead service lines at no cost to property owners. Funds could help treat PFAS or switch to safer sources, and help owners of contaminated household wells buy and install filters. Projects that mainly benefit new subdivisions would generally be barred, except for advanced decentralized wastewater systems.
New national water trust fund
If enacted, a Water Affordability Trust Fund would be created. Each year it would get the extra corporate tax revenue, capped at the lesser of $35 billion or one‑twentieth of combined 20‑year water needs. Money would be split by set shares across EPA, USDA, Indian Health Service, and Labor programs. Funds would be available without another appropriation. The fund could not be used for certain union activity reporting under federal law.
Higher corporate tax rate for companies
If enacted, the corporate income tax rate would rise from 21% to 24.5% for tax years starting after December 31, 2024. Corporations would pay more federal tax. This could affect prices, wages, or investment choices.
More help for rural and Tribal water
If enacted, USDA household well grants would be authorized at $348.5 million each year. Colonias drinking water help would rise to $100 million for 2025–2029, and border States or local governments could apply. Tribal drinking water funding under the program would double its set‑aside to three percent and become mandatory. These changes would expand money for rural wells, Colonias, and Tribal communities.
Bigger grants to fix lead in schools
If enacted, the school drinking water grant program would expand. Funding would grow from $5 million to $1.05 billion and run through 2027. Money could pay to install, repair, or replace lead‑free fountains and bottle fillers. It could also support testing and reporting of lead levels.
Water and sewer job training grants
If enacted, the Labor Department would award water operator training and apprenticeship grants within one year. At least half of funds would target low‑ and very low‑income people when enough applications exist. No set non‑federal match would be required. Grantees would report job results and may be evaluated.
National study on water bills and shutoffs
If enacted, EPA would study water and sewer affordability nationwide and report to Congress within one year. The study would review rates, 10‑year changes, shutoffs, tax liens, and foreclosures from unpaid bills. It would track who lacks service and any unequal impacts by race, gender, or income. EPA would work with the Justice Department on civil‑rights issues and offer recommendations.
Union agreements allowed on water projects
If enacted, States would have to let funded projects use project labor agreements for water and sewer construction. States should try to have these projects use such agreements when possible. The bill would also confirm that current prevailing‑wage rules still apply. This changes procurement and labor rules but not who gets the money.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Connolly
VA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Neal
MA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 5/29/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/9/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Himes
CT • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 4/2/2026
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 4/23/2026
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 5/4/2026
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov