PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.1071 / 115th Congress

Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 15, 2017

Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2017

This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize for FY2018-FY2022 and revise the drinking water state revolving fund (SRF), including to require SRF-funded projects to use iron and steel produced in the United States.

The bill revises requirements for state Intended Use Plans for SRF funds, including to require the plans to: (1) list systems that are not in compliance with national primary drinking water regulation, (2) reserve a specified amount of funding for assistance for disadvantaged communities, and (3) prioritize SRF funding for disadvantaged communities when steps to implement improvements to meet new drinking water standards are not affordable to those communities.

Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.

Read full official summaryShow less

The bill repeals: (1) requirements for regulations on variance technologies, and (2) state authority to exempt small public water systems from national primary drinking water regulations if the system installs certain treatment techniques.

The Environmental Protection Agency must:

prescribe follow up inspections after violations by public water systems,

establish requirements for electronic submission of compliance monitoring data by public water systems,

study the presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in drinking water sources,

collect data on best practices for administration of SRF programs,

implement a voluntary certification program for effective water loss and leak control technology, and

submit a strategic plan for assessing and managing the risks of drought to drinking water provided by public water systems.

The bill also reauthorizes for FY2018-FY2022 a grant program for certain lead reduction projects.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] · D–NY

Committees

  • Energy and Commerce Committee
20 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

  2. Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Jan 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1071 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1071 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1071 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1071 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources