Safe Drinking Water Act
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
Safe Drinking Water Act - Subjects public water systems in each State to national primary drinking water regulations under the Public Health Service Act. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to publish proposed national interim primary drinking water regulations within 90 days after enactment of this Act, such regulations to take effect within a year of promulgation. Directs the Administrator to establish by rule the recommended maximum contaminant levels for each contaminant which may have any adverse effect on the health of persons. Sets standards for the treatment of water contaminants. Requires the Administrator to publish guidelines designed to insure the proper operation of public water supply systems. Prescribes standards to be followed by the National Academy of Science in conducting a study, in agreement with the Administrator, on water contaminants effects and treatments therefor. Designates the States as primary enforcers for purposes of this Act. Directs the Administrator to advise public water systems on methods of meeting national primary drinking water regulations when such systems are out of compliance and are not taking steps to comply. Sets forth prohibited acts by such systems and establishes penalties for willful violations. Authorizes the Administrator to take necessary actions when presented with information that a contaminant which is present or is likely to be present in a public water system is an imminent danger to the public health, and when State or local authorities have not acted to relieve such danger. Provides that when a public water system applies to the Administrator for water treatment chemicals which have become unavailable to such system, the Administrator may issue a certificate of need and the President may, within seven days, order the provision of such chemicals from appropriate manufacturers, producers, processors, and distributors. Authorizes the Administrator to conduct research and demonstrations, or to contract for such, relating to causes, treatment, and prevention of diseases arising from water contaminants. Authorizes grants to States to carry out public water system supervision programs, where such States have assumed primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems within the State. Authorizes appropriations for such purposes. Requires water suppliers to maintain specified records. Authorizes the Administrator to inspect water suppliers' facilities. Establishes the National Drinking Water Advisory Council to advise the Administrator on his responsibilities under this Act. Subjects federally controlled water systems to the provisions of this Act. Directs the Administrator to prepare a study on the quantity, quality, and availability of rural drinking water supplies. Authorizes appropriations necessary to carry out this Act.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on September 19, 1974. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on September 19, 1974: Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 93rd Congress (1973-74), 651 of the 23,396 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
HOWARD ROBISON (R-NY) introduced it on September 19, 1974. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on September 19, 1974, 18984 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 18984 days ago, on September 19, 1974.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 93rd Congress has not finished by January 3, 1975 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers