Review - HR 4597 Introduced - Clean Water SRF Parity

Back in July, Rep Garamendi (D,CA) introduced HR 4597, the Clean Water SRF Parity Act. The bill amends 33 USC 1383 to expand the potential use of funds by qualified non-profit entities and to allow funds from the State water pollution control revolving fund to be used for privately owned treatment works. No additional funds are authorized by this bill.

Both Garamendi and his sole cosponsor {Rep Bost (R,IL)} are members of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there may be enough influence available to see this bill considered in both the Subcommittee and Committee. I do not see anything in this bill that would draw any organized opposition to the bill. I suspect that the bill would receive significant bipartisan support if it were considered. That should mean that the House could take up the bill under the suspension of the rules process.

While ‘cybersecurity’ is generally included in the broader term ‘security’, this bill would have been a perfect time to amend §1383(c)(10) to read:

“(10) for measures to increase the security or cybersecurity of publicly owned treatment works;”

For additional details about the provisions in this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-4597-introduced - subscription required.