Safe Water in Schools Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative James, John [R-MI-10]
Introduced
Summary
Point-of-use water filtration in schools and child care. This bill would let the EPA Administrator make grants to local educational agencies to install certified point-of-use filters to prevent and remediate lead in drinking water.
Show full summary
- Students and families: Children at schools and child care programs would get certified filters to reduce lead exposure before testing and for remediation when contamination is found.
- Local educational agencies: LEAs would be eligible for grants to provide and maintain point-of-use filtration systems described in Safe Drinking Water Act section 1459A(b)(2)(D).
- Federal funding: Provides $60 million for FY2026, rising to $72 million for FY2030, totaling $330 million over five years to support these grants.
*Would authorize $330 million in new federal grants over FY2026-2030, increasing federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants for school water filters
This bill would let the EPA Administrator make grants to local school districts to provide certified point-of-use water filters at schools and child care programs they oversee. Grants would pay for filters used as a preventive step before testing when the Administrator finds that appropriate, and for remediation when lead contamination is identified. The filters must be the certified point-of-use systems the bill references. Local districts would get the grants and decide which school and child-care sites receive the filters.
New grants for school water
This bill would set a five-year funding schedule for grants that help local school districts pay for drinking-water safety projects. It would authorize $60 million for FY2026, $63 million for FY2027, $66 million for FY2028, $69 million for FY2029, and $72 million for FY2030. That is $330 million in authorizations across FY2026–FY2030. Actual spending would depend on later appropriations and which districts receive grants.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
James, John [R-MI-10]
MI • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov