Senate Passes Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, Measure Heads to House
Today, the U.S. Senate voted to pass the $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure bill, with a bipartisan vote of 69-30, which includes funding for the Nation’s roads, bridges, and water infrastructure. The bill includes roughly $55 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure with appropriations for the following drinking water programs: 
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund – $11.713B for capitalization grants for the DWSRF
- $1.902B for FY22
- $2.202B for FY23
- $2.403B for FY24
- $2.603B for FY25
- $2.603B for FY26
FY22 and FY23 funds require 10% state match, FY24 – FY26 require a 20% match; 49% of the funds shall be used to provide additional subsidy to eligible recipients in the form of assistance agreements with 100% principal forgiveness or grants or combo thereof. Up to 3% of FY22 and 2% of FY23-26 is for salaries and administration.
LSL Replacement DWSRF Capitalization Grant – $15B through the DWSRF; $3B for each FY22-26.
Eligible activities include identification, planning, design, and replacement of lead service lines. 49% of the funds shall be used to provide additional subsidy to eligible recipients in the form of assistance agreements with 100% principal forgiveness or grants or combo thereof. Funds provided under this paragraph in this Act are not subject to the matching or cost share requirements of section 1452(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Up to 3% of FY22 and 2% of FY23-26 is for salaries and administration.
DWSRF Emerging Contaminants with focus on PFAS – $4B emerging contaminants capitalization grant under the DWSRF, with a focus on PFAS. $800M for each FY22-26.
No matching requirement for the states; 100% of the funds shall be used to provide additional subsidy to eligible recipients in the form of assistance agreements with 100% principal forgiveness or grants or combo thereof. Up to 3% of FY22 and 2% of FY23-26 is for salaries and administration.
Emerging Contaminants Grant Assistance for Small and Disadvantaged Communities
$5B for small and disadvantaged communities to address emerging contaminants under subsections (a) through (j) of section 1459A of SDWA; $1B each for FY22-26. Projects that address emerging contaminants supporting a community described in SDWA 1459A(c)(2). No match requirement for the states. Up to 3% of FY22-26 is for salaries and administration.
A full summary of the authorizations and appropriations included in the bill is available here: HR3684 – Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Summary. Text of the bill is available here: HR3684 Text. While over 500 amendments were introduced by Senators, they have not yet released the final version of the bill text with the amendments that passed.
Now that the Senate has passed the bipartisan bill, it will go to the House of Representatives, which Democrats control by a narrow margin. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she will only bring the bill to a vote after the Senate passes a separate $3.5 trillion bill providing funding to address climate change and home health care, which Democrats plan to push through without Republican votes using reconciliation. The Senate is expected to vote this week on the budget resolution for the $3.5 trillion bill, with text expected as soon as September. The measure is expected to include new education, health and climate programs as well as an extension of tax cuts for the middle class. Senate Democrats did not include an increase in the federal debt limit, which will have to be passed when Congress returns from August recess, along with a stopgap spending bill to keep the government open after the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
