H.R. 2173House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Wastewater Workforce Investment Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 12:56 AM UTC

The Wastewater Workforce Investment Act amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to focus on developing the workforce needed for publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities. It directs the EPA Administrator to report to Congress within two years on current and future staffing needs, training gaps, and federal actions. The bill also lets states set aside up to one percent of their water infrastructure funding each year for workforce training and retraining.

Key Provisions

Replaces the term “manpower” with “workforce” in the law’s language.
Requires the EPA Administrator to submit a report to Congress within two years detailing workforce needs, skills, education, federal investments, and recommendations.
Allows each state to reserve up to 1% of its water infrastructure grant money annually for workforce development, training, and retraining activities.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee

March 24, 2021

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 23, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

March 23, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee

March 24, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued March 23, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2173

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 23, 2021

Mr. Stanton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to wastewater infrastructure workforce development, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Wastewater Workforce Investment Act.

Wastewater infrastructure workforce investment

(a)

Report to Congress on publicly owned treatment works workforce development

Section 104(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251(g)) is amended—

(1)

by striking manpower each place it appears and inserting workforce; and

(2)

by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows—

(4)

Report to Congress on publicly owned treatment works workforce development

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Wastewater Workforce Investment Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report containing—

(A)

an assessment of the current and future workforce needs for publicly owned treatment works, including an estimate of the number of future positions needed for such treatment works and the technical skills and education needed for such positions;

(B)

a summary of actions taken by the Administrator, including Federal investments under this Act, that promote workforce development to address such needs; and

(C)

any recommendations of the Administrator to address such needs.

(b)

Allotment of funds

Section 604 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1384) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Wastewater infrastructure workforce development

A State may reserve each fiscal year up to 1 percent of the sums allotted to the State under this section for the fiscal year to carry out workforce development, training, and retraining activities described in section 104(g).