This bill, known as the DROUGHT Act of 2024, amends federal water infrastructure financing rules to provide greater financial assistance for water projects in drought-stricken and economically disadvantaged areas. Currently, the federal government can finance up to 55 percent of water infrastructure project costs, but this bill allows the federal share to increase to 90 percent for projects located in states experiencing severe drought conditions as designated by the U.S. Drought Monitor for at least four weeks in the previous three years, or in counties where a governor has declared a drought emergency. The bill also allows the same 90 percent federal financing for water projects serving communities officially designated as disadvantaged, underserved, or financially distressed by federal environmental agencies or that meet state affordability criteria. Projects meeting both criteria—located in severe drought areas and serving disadvantaged communities—receive priority consideration for this enhanced federal funding. The legislation applies to water and wastewater infrastructure projects and aims to help communities most burdened by drought and economic hardship afford necessary water system improvements.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.