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S. 5577Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide grants to upgrade or convert small-capacity cesspools for households in the State of Hawaii.

Sponsored by Mazie K. HironoSen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI)
Introduced September 29, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated October 10, 2026 at 5:51 AM UTC

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to create a grant program that helps replace or upgrade small, single‑family cesspools in Hawaii. The grants cover most of the cost and are aimed at households that meet state affordability criteria. The program is run by the EPA Administrator and provides funding for new septic systems, connections to treatment plants, or community‑scale wastewater solutions, along with related training and outreach.

Key Provisions

  • Defines “eligible individual” as a household member in a municipality that meets state affordability standards.
  • Grants can be given to the State of Hawaii or a qualified “responsible management entity” to cover 75% of costs for converting cesspools to septic tanks, connecting homes to treatment works, or creating community‑scale wastewater systems.
  • Funding also supports workforce development, technical assistance, and education on wastewater management.
  • Prioritizes projects that pose the greatest risk to human health and the environment.
  • Authorizes up to $20 million per fiscal year from 2028 through 2032, with no more than 2% of each year’s funds used for administrative costs.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

September 29, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 29, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

September 29, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 29, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5577

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 29, 2026

Ms. Hirono introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide grants to upgrade or convert small-capacity cesspools for households in the State of Hawaii.

1.

Grants to upgrade or convert small-capacity cesspools in Hawaii

Title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

228.

Grants to upgrade or convert small-capacity cesspools in Hawaii

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Eligible individual

The term eligible individual means a member of a household located in a municipality identified pursuant to the affordability criteria of the applicable State established under section 603(i)(2).

(2)

Responsible management entity

The term responsible management entity means an organization consisting of diverse stakeholders with technical, managerial, and financial capacity to operate and maintain viable decentralized wastewater systems within the jurisdiction of the organization.

(3)

Small-capacity cesspool

The term small-capacity cesspool means an underground sanitary waste system that—

(A)

is connected to 1 single-family residence and serves no other structures; and

(B)

receives only residential sanitary waste.

(b)

Grants authorized

The Administrator may make grants to the State of Hawaii or a responsible management entity with jurisdiction over an area located in the State of Hawaii for the benefit of eligible individuals to pay the Federal share of the cost of—

(1)

subject to subsection (d)—

(A)

the conversion of a small-capacity cesspool to an individual wastewater system, such as a septic tank;

(B)

the connection of a single-family residence with a small-capacity cesspool to a treatment works; and

(C)

the conversion of a community of single-family residences that each has a small-capacity cesspool to a community-scale, cluster, or decentralized wastewater system; and

(2)

workforce development, technical assistance, and educational and advocacy programs relating to wastewater management.

(c)

Federal Share

The Federal share of the cost of activities carried out using a grant under subsection (b) shall be 75 percent.

(d)

Prioritization

In making grants under subsection (b)(1), the Administrator shall, in consultation with the State of Hawaii, give priority to projects that address small-capacity cesspools that pose the greatest risk to human and environmental health.

(e)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2032.

(2)

Administrative expenses

Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Administrator may use not more than 2 percent for the administrative expenses of carrying out this section.

.