Drinking Water Affordability Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 21, 2017

Drinking Water Affordability Act

This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to revise requirements concerning national primary drinking water regulations, including by:

removing a requirement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintain, or provide greater, protection of human health when revising those regulations;

extending the repayment schedule for loans from the drinking water state revolving funds (SRFs);

authorizing states to protect public drinking water source areas;

removing federal reporting requirements if state or local requirements are not less stringent than federal requirements; and

requiring the EPA to conduct a review on best practices for streamlining the application process for public water systems to receive loans or loan guarantees from an SRF as well as best practices for administering SRFs efficiently.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5] · R–OH

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. McKinley, David B. [R-WV-1]

Legislative record

Actions

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

Mar 24, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
Mar 21, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 21, 2017
Introduced in House
Mar 21, 2017
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in House · Mar 21, 2017 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1653 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.

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Discuss H.R.1653, 115th Congress: Drinking Water Affordability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1653

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-03-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1653/BILLS-115hr1653ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:32:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.1653 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1653 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

Discuss H.R.1653, 115th Congress: Drinking Water Affordability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1653

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-03-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1653/BILLS-115hr1653ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:32:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1653 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1653 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

Discuss H.R.1653, 115th Congress: Drinking Water Affordability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1653

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-03-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1653/BILLS-115hr1653ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:32:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1653 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1653 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

Discuss H.R.1653, 115th Congress: Drinking Water Affordability Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1653

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-03-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1653/BILLS-115hr1653ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:32:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1653 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.