H.R. 7921 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Agriculture, Mar 12, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryUpdates rural water system grant eligibility rules
This bill updates a program that helps rural communities pay for household water wells and wastewater systems. Right now, the Department of Agriculture gives grants to nonprofits, which then pass money along to individuals in rural areas as subgrants or loans. The bill changes who qualifies—making eligibility based on area income levels instead of state or territory income levels, and allows wastewater system grants to include money for a five-year warranty. It also opens loans to people with slightly higher incomes.
How it affects you
Rural residents who need help paying for household water or wastewater systems could see changes to whether they qualify for assistance. People with lower incomes in rural areas might find it easier or harder to get subgrants depending on their specific area, while those with moderate incomes would become eligible for loans. People living in towns or cities wouldn't be affected by this program.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Mar 12, 2026)
This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2031 a program that provides financial assistance for rural water systems under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
Under the existing program, the Department of Agriculture may provide grants to nonprofit organizations that in turn must provide subgrants and loans to individuals for household water well systems or individually owned household decentralized wastewater systems in rural areas.
This bill modifies the eligibility requirements for subgrants. To be eligible for a subgrant, an individual must be a member of a household with an annual combined income that is no more than 60% of the median nonmetropolitan household income for the area served by the nonprofit (currently, the state or territory in which the individual resides).
The bill also allows a subgrant for a household decentralized wastewater system to include sufficient additional funding to cover the cost of a performance warranty with a duration of at least five years.
In addition, the bill allows loans to be awarded to an individual who is a member of a household with an annual combined income that is 60% or more of the median nonmetropolitan household income for the area.
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.
2nd SessionH. R. 7921
A BILL
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify provisions relating to rural decentralized water systems grants.
Sponsor: Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL-7) · Introduced Mar 12, 2026 · Water Resources Development · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 3, 2026: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.”