Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH), along with Congressman Tim Walz, (D-MN), has introduced the Clean Water
Affordability Act of 2014.
This bill will assist municipalities to more affordably manage their wastewater infrastructure projects.

"This bipartisan bill will help communities with EPA mandated water infrastructure improvement
projects. Much of our district’s rural communities and municipalities are burdened with EPA mandates for
water infrastructure projects with no financial assistance, therefore forcing communities to cover the
total cost for these mandated projects," Latta said. If H.R. 3862 is signed into law, cash-strapped
municipalities will receive much needed relief by receiving additional flexibility for managing these
projects."
Specifically, H.R. 3862 amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, updating the EPA’s clean water
affordability policy to assist municipalities that cannot meet unfunded mandates to improve their
wastewater infrastructure projects. Under the bill, municipalities will have an extended loan repayment
period from the current limit of 20 years to 30 years, as well as allow extra time for their
implementation schedules of up to 30 years for projects. In addition, it will allow states to use up to
30 percent of total capitalization grants received by the state as grant funds.