Congresswoman Pou Water Crisis Prevention Act Passes in Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today approved the Water Crisis Prevention Act, legislation offered by Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09) in response to the recent water emergency in Passaic County. The bill was included in broader legislation to reauthorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The legislation now heads to the House floor.

“Just weeks ago, over 200,000 residents in our district lost access to water after the rupture of a 140-year-old pipe. The impact was catastrophic for people, families, and small businesses who are all still recovering,” said Congresswoman Pou, New Jersey’s only member of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee. “The people of our communities deserve to be made whole. To prevent future catastrophes, we must prioritize infrastructure updates for communities like those in our district and others dependent on pipes from the 19th Century. We cannot stick our heads in the sand. My legislation will help the federal government respond quickly to help support families, small businesses and local governments when disaster strikes. I will fight for its passage through the full House and into law this Congress.”

Pou’s Water Crisis Prevention Act (H.R. 5072) would require a Government Accountability Office study into preventing and responding to water infrastructure failures, like water main breaks. It will examine funding available to states, localities, Americans, and small businesses, both with and without a formal emergency declaration. It also examines how the federal government can better work with states to identify areas most at risk of water crises, and how Congress can get funding to these communities faster.

North Jersey communities continue to recover from multiple water main ruptures that blocked access to water for over 200,000 residents of the Ninth District. After the water crisis began, Congresswoman Pou’s office instituted a whole-of-government approach, working with local, county, state, and federal leaders to coordinate bringing critical aid to residents and first responders. Immediately after the break, she called on the governor’s office to consider an emergency declaration, and the creation of a dedicated hotline for people needing help getting water. 

Pou’s office fielded calls and provided assistance to constituents in need, working with the State Office of Emergency Management, the local water commission, and Paterson’s Constituent Services Office to coordinate casework and make sure anyone experiencing difficulty getting water had it delivered. 

A recording of Congresswoman Pou’s remarks in support of her Water Crisis Prevention Act is available here.

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