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S. 4362 116th Congress Senate

Emergency Water and Energy is a Human Right Act

Official title: A bill to prohibit water and power shutoffs during the COVID-19 emergency period, provide drinking and wastewater assistance to households, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 29, 2020 Introduced by: Jeff Merkley Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
Water Resources Development Cardiovascular and respiratory healthCongressional oversightElectric power generation and transmissionEmergency medical services and trauma care
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Energy assistance for the poor and agedIndian social and development programsInfectious and parasitic diseasesLow- and moderate-income housingPublic utilities and utility ratesRural conditions and developmentSolid waste and recyclingWater qualityWater resources fundingWater use and supply
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 29, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jul 29, 2020
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action July 29, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Emergency Water and Energy is a Human Right Act

This bill creates a grant program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide funds to states and Indian tribes to assist low-income households that pay a high proportion of household income for drinking water and wastewater services.

Specifically, states and Indian tribes must provide payments to owners and operators of public water systems and wastewater treatment works to reduce rates charged to low-income households. Owners and operators must also conduct outreach activities to ensure that households are aware of the available rate reduction assistance.

Further, any entity receiving financial assistance under this grant program must ensure that no home energy service, public water system service, or wastewater treatment works is or remains disconnected or interrupted during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency because of nonpayment.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 6552 Emergency Water is a Human Right Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 11
All 11 Democratic 10 Independent 1
D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Aug 6, 2020
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Aug 3, 2020
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Aug 3, 2020
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Jul 29, 2020
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Jul 29, 2020
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Jul 29, 2020
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Jul 29, 2020
 D
Murphy, Christopher
Connecticut · Jul 29, 2020
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Jul 29, 2020
 D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Jul 29, 2020
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Jul 29, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 4362: Emergency Water and Energy is a Human Right Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-4362/
MLA
"S. 4362: Emergency Water and Energy is a Human Right Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-4362/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 4362, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-4362/.
Markdown link
[S. 4362: Emergency Water and Energy is a Human Right Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-4362/)
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