Rural communities could see faster access to emergency water funding under a new bipartisan bill led by U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio). The proposed legislation aims to address delays in providing aid for water-related disasters, which often impact rural areas more severely.
“Rural communities are often hit the hardest by water-related disasters, yet they face long delays before emergency funding reaches them. This commonsense bill cuts red tape so communities can respond immediately during times of emergency and get critical water systems back online faster. In a crisis, communities need action, and this bipartisan effort will deliver help when they need it most,” said Husted.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who supports the measure, added: “When disasters strike, neighborhoods need access to water without delay in order to respond, save lives and recover. This legislation will play an important role in making sure we protect our water supply and provide the support our communities need to assist thousands of people in times of emergency.”
Matt Holmes, CEO of the National Rural Water Association, stated: “The Emergency Rural Water Response Act will ensure rural communities are not left waiting for help when disaster strikes, thus protecting public health and economic stability through access to safe and reliable water services in rural America. By streamlining emergency funding and expanding eligibility, this legislation empowers local water systems to respond quickly and protect the families, farms, and businesses that depend on them every day.”
The bill proposes expanding the types of projects eligible for grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants program. Under the changes, grant funds could be used not only for potable water but also for wastewater systems, storm drainage infrastructure, and solid waste facilities.
Another key provision would increase the population cap for eligible towns from 10,000 residents to 35,000 residents. This change is intended to allow larger rural towns access to federal emergency assistance previously unavailable due to population limits.
The USDA’s Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants program provides support for rural areas facing threats to their drinking water supply from events such as droughts or floods—even if no federal disaster declaration has been made.
This legislative effort follows Husted’s previous work supporting Ohio’s rural areas through measures like introducing the Water Resources Technical Assistance Act—designed to help localities navigate complex funding programs—and advocating for the Rural Health Transformation Fund as part of broader tax legislation aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Ohio’s small towns.
A full version of the bill is available online.
