# Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2021

This bill provides one billion dollars in emergency financial help to rural water systems that have been struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you live in a rural area and depend on a local water, wastewater, or waste disposal system, this bill could mean the difference between your water staying on or facing service disruptions.

The money can be used in several flexible ways to help these struggling systems. Rural water facilities can receive outright grants (free money they don't have to repay), loans with zero percent interest, or loans at just one percent interest. The government can also forgive existing debts these systems owe, reduce their loan payments, or eliminate fees they normally have to pay. Essentially, the bill gives the Secretary of Agriculture multiple tools to provide relief based on what each water system needs most. A system facing immediate cash flow problems might get a grant, while another might benefit more from having its existing debt restructured or reduced.

The assistance is meant to address three specific problems these rural systems face: keeping basic public health and safety services running, dealing with financial hardship directly caused by the pandemic, and stabilizing their long-term finances. Water systems can use the money for infrastructure improvements, emergency repairs, or to cover their day-to-day operating costs. The bill sets aside $1 billion for this purpose, with about $970 million going directly to water systems and $30 million reserved for the government to administer the program. The money is available to be distributed through the end of 2022, giving rural communities time to apply and receive help during the pandemic's economic impact.

Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2021

Rouzer, David

Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2021 This bill allows, and provides funds for, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants and loans, as well as loan forgiveness, modification, and refinancing, to rural water, wastewater, or waste disposal facilities. Specifically, USDA may provide such assistance for purposes of ensuring public health, safety, and order and to address financial hardships, in particular those due to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.