Water Resources Technical Assistance Review Act
This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the technical assistance authority, initiatives, and programs of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that are related to clean water infrastructure.
Among other things, the review must include
GAO must submit a report to Congress on the review, which must include any recommendations to improve covered technical assistance. Further, the EPA must submit a compliance plan to Congress annually for five years on any actions taken by the EPA to comply with GAO's recommendations.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3427 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3427
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to review all
clean water-related technical assistance authorities of the
Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 15, 2025
Mr. Taylor introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Comptroller General of the United States to review all
clean water-related technical assistance authorities of the
Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Water Resources Technical Assistance
Review Act''.
SEC. 2. GAO REPORT ON CLEAN WATER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
initiate a comprehensive review of all covered technical assistance.
(b) Requirements.--The Comptroller General shall include in the
review required under subsection (a) the following:
(1) A description of all covered technical assistance
available to States, Tribes, local governments, and non-
governmental organizations, including--
(A) the regions and populations that are served
through the provision of technical assistance; and
(B) a summary of the activities and actions carried
out through covered technical assistance during the 5-
year period preceding this Act.
(2) A comprehensive review of how the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, through the Water Technical
Assistance initiative (known as ``WaterTA initiative''),
identifies, selects, and partners with technical assistance
providers to support communities, including--
(A) a description of the criteria, evaluation
process, and contracting mechanisms used for selecting
such providers;
(B) a description of the extent of coordination
with State, Tribal, and regional partners in the
selection and deployment of such providers;
(C) a description of how such providers are matched
to meet the needs of local communities, including any
pre-engagement scoping activities or community
consultations;
(D) a description of how such providers identify
communities in need of technical assistance, including
economically distressed communities, and conduct
outreach to such communities;
(E) a description of the scope and types of
assistance delivered through such initiative; and
(F) a list of communities that received technical
assistance support through such initiative, including
the type and cost of assistance received by each such
community and a summary of the outcomes associated with
the provision of such assistance.
(3) An analysis of any duplication of covered technical
assistance available through multiple programs of the
Environmental Protection Agency.
(4) An evaluation of how the provision of covered technical
assistance builds capacity in communities to access other water
infrastructure programs carried out by the Administrator.
(5) An assessment of the needs of economically distressed
communities eligible to receive assistance under a clean water
infrastructure program carried out by the Administrator that
are not addressed through covered technical assistance.
(6) An evaluation of how the Administrator carries out
covered technical assistance in coordination with other Federal
agencies providing technical assistance related to water
infrastructure.
(c) Report.--Upon the completion of the review conducted under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a
report containing--
(1) the findings of such review; and
(2) any recommendations to improve covered technical
assistance.
(d) Plan for Compliance.--Not later than 90 days after the
Comptroller General submits the report required under subsection (c),
and annually thereafter for a period of 5 years, the Administrator
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate a plan detailing any actions the
Administrator has taken to comply with the recommendations contained in
such a report.
(e) Covered Technical Assistance Defined.--In this section, the
term ``covered technical assistance'' means a technical assistance
authority, initiative, or program of the Environmental Protection
Agency that is related to clean water infrastructure.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Discharged
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 61 - 3.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-275.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-275.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 231.
Mr. Taylor moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4277)
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3427.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4277: 1)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4277)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.