For Immediate Release: November 15, 2024

Today, Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced the Half-Century Update for Water Access and Affordability Act (H2O UP Act of 2024), to establish the first-ever permanent, federal low-income water affordability program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This legislation is the first necessary step to address the U.S. water affordability crisis. It comes at a time when public water systems in the U.S. are facing rising costs of outdated infrastructure, climate change, and necessary public health safeguards that should not become a burden to low-income households.

In response, Yasmin Zaerpoor, Director of Water Equity and Climate Resilience with PolicyLink, released the following statement on behalf PolicyLink and the national Water Equity & Climate Resilience Caucus:

“The United States is facing a growing water affordability crisis affecting low-income families across the country. It is unacceptable that in this country, anyone has to make the impossible decision between paying their water bill and paying for food or medicine, or live in fear of having their water service shut off. Water is a basic human right, and should be safe and affordable for all — regardless of their race, income, or where they live. We need a comprehensive approach to ensuring safe and affordable water for all, now and in the future.

“PolicyLink, which anchors the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus, applauds Representatives Tlaib and Dingell for leading the way by introducing the H2O UP Act of 2024 to create a permanent water affordability program at U.S. EPA. This bill makes meaningful steps to address America’s water affordability crisis by pairing water bill assistance with much-needed technical assistance, data collection and reporting, and improvements in the administration of State Revolving Loan Funds to address the root causes of unaffordable water. 

“Together, this is a problem we can solve so no family in the United States is left without safe drinking water they can afford.”

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The H2O UP Act of 2024 is co-sponsored Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Cori Bush (D-MO), Summer Lee (D-PA), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), André Carson (D-IN), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL), and Shri Thanedar (D-MI).

The bill has been endorsed by the following Water Equity & Climate Resilience Caucus members: PolicyLink, Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council, Clean Water Action, Freshwater Future, Green Latinos, Community Water Center, We The People of Detroit, Center for Water Security and Cooperation, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Elevate, River Network, Appalachian Citizens' Law Center, Bayou City Waterkeeper, and Verde.

About the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus

The Water Equity and Climate Resilience (WECR) Caucus is a national network of organizations working to address water equity and climate resilience — centering frontline communities of color and low-income communities.