HR 1265119th CongressIn Committee

To amend the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to expand eligibility for certain wastewater infrastructure grants, and for other purposes.

Introduced: Feb 12, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill amends the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to broaden who can receive certain federal grants for wastewater infrastructure and trash-free waters projects. Specifically, it adds state governments as eligible recipients, alongside municipalities and units of local government, and it makes a small clarifying change in how tribal entities are listed. In short, states would be able to apply for and administer these grants (not just local governments), potentially enabling more coordinated statewide planning and faster deployment of wastewater infrastructure and related debris-prevention efforts. The measure is a targeted, eligibility-focused change rather than a new funding authorization. Its impact depends on future appropriations and how grant programs are administered by agencies (likely EPA) and states.

Key Points

1Adds States as eligible recipients for wastewater infrastructure and trash-free waters grants in subsection (c)(1) of Section 302.
2Clarifies enumeration by inserting a comma before “or Indian Tribes” in subsection (c)(1), improving the list of eligible recipients.
3Adds States as eligible recipients before “units of local government” in subsection (d)(1) of Section 302.
4Maintains the overall purpose of supporting wastewater infrastructure and trash-free waters but expands the pool of eligible administering entities.
5Does not create new funding or authorize new spending by itself; it changes who may apply for or administer existing grant programs.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: State governments and, indirectly, the localities they serve. Local governments (cities, counties) may benefit from state-wide administration and streamlined access to funds.Secondary group/area affected: Municipalities and units of local government, which remain eligible and may see changes in application pathways via state coordination; tribal communities may be affected through clarified eligibility language.Additional impacts: Grant program administration and implementation timelines could shift as states assume new eligibility, potentially affecting project deployments, coordination with EPA and other federal agencies, and the pace of wastewater infrastructure upgrades and debris-prevention initiatives. Since no new funding is authorized in this bill, actual funding levels would depend on future appropriations.

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