May 20, 2021 – OAKLAND, CA – Today, the US Water Alliance applauded new legislation introduced by US Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and John Katko (R-NY). The bill Low-Income Water Customer Assistance Programs Act of 2021 (HR 3293) would create the first-ever federally funded permanent low-income water customer assistance program. If passed into law, this much-needed, bipartisan legislation will begin to provide targeted relief to the low-income households across our country.
Similar to heat and energy assistance, a federally funded, permanent low-income water assistance program will provide a vital safety net for families during times of financial distress. This program will ensure that water continues to flow for millions of Americans while reducing long-term debt accumulation in our communities. The program also increases federal investment in our water systems, allowing utilities to have more consistent, predictable budgets even during economic downturns. To learn more about this important program, click here.
Sara Aminzadeh, US Water Alliance Vice President of Partnerships, said: “The US Water Alliance welcomes the introduction of legislation that would create a permanent low-income water customer assistance program. This would be meaningful not only for our members, and all water utilities, but for families across the country who need financial assistance with their bills. Making sure everyone has access to clean, safe, reliable and affordable water is a core part of our work. We applaud Representatives Rochester and Katko for introducing this compassionate and commonsense bipartisan legislation.”
The Alliance educates the public and Capitol Hill leaders on the value of water access and affordability and other reforms to deliver safe and affordable drinking water to every American. After the COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in our nation’s water systems and public health ramifications of lack of access to clean water, the Alliance created a “Recovering Stronger” initiative and released its federal policy blueprint, which included calling for a low-income assistance policy. Read more about our federal policy solutions here.
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Media Contact: Abigail Gardner | media@uswateralliance.org
US Water Alliance advances policies and programs to secure a sustainable water future for all. Established in 2008, the Alliance is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that educates the nation on the true value of water, accelerates the adoption of One Water policies and programs, and celebrates innovation in water management. The Alliance brings together diverse interests to identify and advance common-ground, achievable solutions to our nation’s most pressing water challenges. Our membership includes water providers, public officials, business leaders, environmental organizations, community leaders, policy organizations, and more.
