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WASHINGTON—Congressman Paul D. Tonko today cheered the House vote to pass his transformational drinking water legislation—the Assistance, Quality, and Affordability (AQUA) Act—as part of major infrastructure legislation, the INVEST in America Act. Tonko’s legislation would deliver needed federal investments to local communities to address critical water infrastructure needs and replace every one of the millions of lead service lines still in use—400,000 of which remain in schools and childcare facilities.

“I always say that water is part of every life and every job, and that has never been more true than it is today as we lay the foundation for America’s swift, sustainable COVID recovery,” Congressman Tonko said. “Despite their vital importance, drinking water systems across our nation continue to fall further into disrepair, causing devastating hardships for families, local communities and our entire economy resulting from water main breaks, leaking pipes and most alarmingly exposure to dangerous contaminants including lead and PFAS chemicals. The House vote today to pass my AQUA Act as part of our bold American infrastructure plan shows that Congress is ready to get the job done to fix our broken local water systems, clean up dangerous PFAS contamination and restore the health, safety and resilience of our families and communities. I will never stop pushing until we get this legislation across the finish line and signed into law so that every American can turn on their tap and get drinking water that is clean and safe for themselves and their loved ones.”

The AQUA Act of 2021:

• Invests $105 billion over 10 years for our nation's water systems, including:
• $53 billion for the Drinking Water SRF
• $45 billion to fully replace every lead service line
• $5 billion to provide assistance to systems with PFAS contamination
• Requires EPA to set national standards for PFAS, 1,4-dioxane, and microcystin toxin, and makes it easier for EPA to set standards in the future
• Authorizes $4 billion emergency relief program to provide forgiveness for utility customers facing debts and unpaid fees since March 1, 2020

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