The House approved bipartisan legislation Monday to scrutinize EPA programs that help communities access federal funding for water infrastructure.
The “Water Resources Technical Assistance Review Act,” H.R. 3427, from Rep. David Taylor (R-Ohio) and co-sponsored by Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Ala.), would direct the Government Accountability Office to review and recommend improvements to EPA’s clean water technical assistance programs. It passed by voice vote.
EPA’s WaterTA initiative was created under the Biden administration to reduce barriers to accessing funds to fix water treatment plants, sewage systems and other infrastructure. Small communities with limited resources can face difficulty applying for federal grants and loans, and the program aims to fill that gap.
Although EPA technical assistance is needed, communities continue to face barriers to getting help, Taylor said during floor debate.
