Upton, House Approves Legislation to Help Rural and Small Community Water Systems

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 01, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today joined the majority of his House colleagues in voting to advance S. 611, the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act.

“This bipartisan bill is a big win for our smaller and more rural communities throughout Southwest Michigan,” said Upton. “These communities often face real challenges trying to comply with federal safe drinking water regulations, and this bill will help level the playing field. As a result, families across Southwest Michigan will have easier access to safe drinking water.”

S. 611 will amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to help alleviate the financial burden imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on small and rural drinking supply systems. It would reauthorize the EPA program that provides technical assistance to small public water systems and authorize the EPA to provide technical assistance programs to small public water systems through grants or cooperative agreements made to non-profit organizations.

The legislation was cleared by the U.S. Senate in June, and was unanimously approved by Upton’s Committee on Energy and Commerce earlier this month. It now heads to the president’s desk for his signature.