To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish an emergency preparedness and response technical assistance program to assist entities that operate rural water or wastewater systems in preparing for and responding to natural or man-made disasters.
This bill establishes a new federal grant program to help rural water and wastewater systems prepare for and respond to disasters caused by natural events or human actions. The program would provide grants to nonprofit organizations with expertise in emergency response to help rural water associations with activities like developing disaster plans, conducting vulnerability assessments, deploying emergency personnel and equipment during disasters, and assisting with repairs and service restoration. The legislation also specifically targets assistance to disadvantaged communities that lack resources to address water system challenges. The bill authorizes twenty million dollars per year for the program from 2024 through 2028, with the grants limited to covering salaries, supplies, equipment rentals, and related expenses, but not to duplicate funding already provided by other federal sources.
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