March 25, 2025
Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
To establish a program to increase drinking water and wastewater system threat preparedness and resilience, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Water Intelligence, Security, and Cyber Threat Protection Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Program establishment
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Community water system
The term community water system has the meaning given the term in section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f).
(2) Natural hazard
The term natural hazard has the meaning given the term in section 1433(h) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300i–2(h)).
(3) Treatment works
The term treatment works has the meaning given the term in section 212 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292).
(4) Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center
The term Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center means the Information Sharing and Analysis Center referenced in section 1435(d) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300i–4(d)).
(b) Establishment
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall develop and carry out a program—
(1)
to encourage, support, and maintain the participation of community water systems, treatment works, and other appropriate entities in the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center;
(2)
to offset costs incurred by community water systems and treatment works that are necessary to maintain or initiate membership in the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center;
(3)
to expand the cooperation and coordination of the Environmental Protection Agency with the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center with respect to incident data collection and analysis of water sector-related threats; and
(4)
to enhance the tools, resources, and materials of the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center for—
(A)
monitoring the status of the water sector; and
(B)
enhancing the preparedness of community water systems and publicly owned treatment works to identify, protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from malevolent acts (within the meaning of section 1433 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300i–2)) or natural hazards.
(c) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027, to remain available until expended.