The U.S. House of Representatives passed the $1.85 trillion Build Back Better bill (H.R.5376) on November 19. If the bill passes the Senate and is signed by President Joe Biden the BBB, together with the recently signed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will provide substantial funding for water infrastructure.
As approved by the House, the Build Better Act includes:
- $9 billion in grants for disadvantaged communities to replace lead service lines
- $970 million to replace lead service lines in rural communities through United States Department of Agriculture /Rural Development (USDA/RD)
- $225 million for low-income water assistance through United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
- $150 million for low-income household decentralized wastewater grants
- $125 million for alternative water source projects
- $1.85 million for stormwater reuse grants
The BBB also includes the proposed creation of a Rural Partnership Program with $1 billion of funding through 2031 that would be administered by the USDA/RD. “The new Rural Partnership Program will provide catalytic investments and much-needed technical assistance to rural and Tribal communities and rural-serving organizations that are too often unable to access and leverage the Federal resources they need to create opportunity and compete in a globalized world. These investments will put new tools in the toolbox for leveraging the additional funding toward water, housing, and clean energy essential to 21st century infrastructure, diversified rural economies, and prosperous communities,” said Tom Vilsack, U.S. Agriculture Secretary.