The American Water Works Association (AWWA) offers its strong
support for the proposed Low-Income Household Water Assistance
Program Establishment Act. This bipartisan legislation would
permanently establish low-income water assistance for families
struggling to access affordable drinking water and wastewater
services.
WASHINGTON, April 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Water Works
Association (AWWA) offers its strong support for the proposed
Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act.
This bipartisan legislation would permanently establish low-income
water assistance for families struggling to access affordable
drinking water and wastewater services.
"We are pleased that Reps. Sorensen and
Chavez-DeRemer have joined Sen. Padilla in the next phase of moving
this key legislation forward. Authorizing a permanent low-income
assistance program is an important step towards assuring that all
households have access to safe and reliable water service."
In collaboration with a coalition of leading drinking water and
wastewater sector organizations, AWWA has prioritized low-income
water assistance for several years, including this year at the
Association's annual Fly-In.
Sponsored by U.S. Reps. Eric
Sorensen (D-IL), Lori
Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Kim
Schrier (D-Wash.), and Jenniffer
Gonzalez-Colon, the Low-Income Household Water Assistance
Program Establishment Act (H.R. 8032) is a
https://sorensen.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/sorensen.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/LIHWAP
Establishment Act.pdf [companion bill __title__ companion bill] to
Senate legislation introduced by Sen. Alex
Padilla (D-CA) earlier this year. Both proposals would
permanently authorize the Department of Health and Human Services'
Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), established
by Congress in 2020 to promote public health by easing the burden
on families struggling to afford their monthly water bills.
Since that time, LIHWAP has proven to be a critical lifeline,
allowing more than 1.6 million households across 49 states and
numerous tribes and territories to maintain water and wastewater
services in the face of economic hardship.
Unfortunately, the temporary program expired at the end of 2023,
leaving low-income families nationwide at risk of losing access to
essential water services. This legislation would also support
communities as they invest in critical drinking water and
wastewater infrastructure upgrades by ensuring ratepayer
affordability over time.
"For two years, LIHWAP has served as a lifeline for customers
struggling to keep up with their water bills," said Tracy Mehan, executive director of the American
Water Works Association's Government Affairs Office. "We are
pleased that Reps. Sorensen and Chavez-DeRemer have joined Sen.
Padilla in the next phase of moving this key legislation forward.
Authorizing a permanent low-income assistance program is an
important step towards assuring that all households have access to
safe and reliable water service."
Water and wastewater sector organizations endorsed the Senate
version of the LIHWAP Establishment Act in February. The sector is
proud to support the new House legislation, which takes an
identical approach to S. 3830 and includes an authorization level
of $1.1 billion annually. That is the
level of funding provided by Congress for the current program,
which is expected to be fully expended by July 2024.
Established in 1881, the American Water Works Association is the
largest nonprofit, scientific and educational association dedicated
to managing and treating water, the world's most vital resource.
With approximately 50,000 members, AWWA provides solutions to
improve public health, protect the environment, strengthen the
economy and enhance our quality of life.
Media Contact
Greg Kail, American Water Works
Association, 303-913-0063, gkail@awwa.org, www.awwa.org
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content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/new-bipartisan-legislation-continues-low-income-household-water-assistance-program-302121397.html
SOURCE American Water Works Association