Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2026

This bill would add a new section to federal farm and rural development law to give more help to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems already eligible for certain federal programs. The Secretary of Agriculture could give these systems grants or loans at zero or 1 percent interest. The Secretary could also forgive principal or interest, change the terms of existing loans, or refinance certain other loans. Help could be given to keep public health, safety, or order, or to address financial hardship for systems in disadvantaged or economically distressed areas. To decide which areas qualify, the Secretary would set a measure of water affordability based on household cost as a share of median household income.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Donald G. Davis Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors