Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2021

II 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 209 To provide for assistance to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems affected by the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 3, 2021 Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. TILLIS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nu- trition, and Forestry A BILL To provide for assistance to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems affected by the COVID–19 pan- demic, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Emergency Assistance 4 for Rural Water Systems Act of 2021’’. 5 SEC. 2. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER SYS- 6 TEMS. 7 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:54 Feb 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S209.IS S209 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 209 IS (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti- 1 ty’’ means a rural water, wastewater, or waste dis- 2 posal facility with respect to which assistance may 3 be provided under a water, wastewater, or waste dis- 4 posal program under section 306(a), 306A, 306C, or 5 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Develop- 6 ment Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a), 1926a, 1926c, 1926d). 7 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 8 the Secretary of Agriculture. 9 (b) EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 10 may— 11 (1) provide a grant, a zero percent interest 12 loan, or a 1 percent interest loan to, forgive prin- 13 cipal or interest or modify any term or condition of 14 an outstanding loan made to, or refinance part or all 15 of any other loan (if the purpose of the loan is an 16 eligible purpose under section 306(a)(1) or 306C of 17 the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 18 (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(1), 1926c)) made to, an eligible 19 entity; or 20 (2) reduce or eliminate any fee that is or would 21 otherwise be required to be paid under section 22 306(a)(1) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(1)) with re- 23 spect to a loan guarantee provided to an eligible en- 24 tity, on the condition that the eligible entity receives 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:54 Feb 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S209.IS S209 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 209 IS the benefit resulting from the reduction or elimi- 1 nation of the fee. 2 (c) LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may pro- 3 vide assistance to an eligible entity under subsection (b) 4 as the Secretary determines is necessary— 5 (1) to ensure that the eligible entity has the 6 necessary resources to maintain public health, safe- 7 ty, or order; 8 (2) to address financial hardships of the eligible 9 entity due to the COVID–19 public health emer- 10 gency; or 11 (3) to promote the financial stability of the eli- 12 gible entity. 13 (d) USE OF ASSISTANCE.—An eligible entity to which 14 assistance is provided under subsection (b) may use the 15 assistance— 16 (1) for any purpose for which the eligible entity 17 is eligible for assistance under the relevant provision 18 of law referred to in subsection (a)(1); or 19 (2) for any direct operational expenses incurred 20 by the eligible entity, as determined by the Sec- 21 retary. 22 (e) APPROPRIATION.— 23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Out of any amounts in the 24 Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appro- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:54 Feb 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S209.IS S209 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 209 IS priated to the Secretary $1,000,000,000 to carry out 1 this section. 2 (2) RESERVATION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EX- 3 PENSES.—The Secretary shall reserve 3 percent of 4 the amount appropriated by paragraph (1) for ad- 5 ministrative expenses incurred by the Secretary in 6 carrying out this section. 7 (3) AVAILABILITY.—The amount appropriated 8 by paragraph (1) shall remain available through De- 9 cember 31, 2022. 10 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:54 Feb 21, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S209.IS S209 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS