H.R. 766 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Jan 28, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryCDC wastewater surveillance system gains legal authority
This bill gives the CDC formal legal authority to run the National Wastewater Surveillance System, which detects disease-causing viruses in wastewater. The system would monitor for several diseases including COVID-19, influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and RSV. The CDC would expand and intensify these monitoring efforts, providing funding and guidance to local health departments that collect samples and share the data.
How it affects you
You won't directly notice this change in daily life, but public health officials in your area may expand their wastewater testing programs. This early detection system helps health departments spot disease outbreaks in your community before people get sick, so they can prepare and respond faster.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 28, 2025)
Surveilling Effluent Water for Epidemic Response Act or the SEWER Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) program, which detects and monitors pathogens in wastewater. It requires the CDC to expand and intensify the activities of the NWSS, including with respect to SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The NWSS provides funding and guidance to public health departments for wastewater surveillance activities. Under the NWSS, health departments and other partners coordinate on wastewater surveillance at sampling sites and share data with the CDC. The NWSS was initially implemented to monitor SARS-CoV-2 and has since expanded to include influenza A, avian influenza A, mpox, and RSV.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 766
A BILL
SEWER Act
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA-42) · Introduced Jan 28, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 28, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.”