To amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to establish, maintain, or improve activities related to the detection and monitoring of infectious diseases through wastewater for public health emergency preparedness and response purposes, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · July 11, 2024
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
The SEWER Act (Surveilling Effluent Water for Epidemic Response Act) directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand and coordinate the National Wastewater Surveillance System to detect and monitor infectious diseases in wastewater, including COVID-19, influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and respiratory syncytial virus. The legislation authorizes $150 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to support these expanded wastewater monitoring activities in coordination with federal, state, and local health agencies. The bill affects public health agencies and wastewater systems that may participate in surveillance efforts, helping improve the nation's ability to detect disease outbreaks early and prepare for public health emergencies. Importantly, the legislation includes a provision clarifying that wastewater utilities and service providers cannot be required to participate in surveillance activities, making participation voluntary.
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