H.R.766 - Surveilling Effluent Water for Epidemic Response Act; SEWER Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.766, also known as the SEWER Act, aims to amend the Public Health Service Act. It mandates the Secretary to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities. The goal is to establish, maintain, or improve activities related to detecting and monitoring infectious diseases through wastewater for public health emergency preparedness and response.
Expected Effects
The bill seeks to expand and coordinate the National Wastewater Surveillance System. This system will detect and monitor pathogens in wastewater, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and respiratory syncytial virus. The bill authorizes appropriations of $150,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030.
Potential Benefits
- Improved public health emergency preparedness.
- Early detection of infectious disease outbreaks.
- Enhanced monitoring of pathogens in wastewater.
- Better coordination among federal, state, and local agencies.
- Potential for more effective resource allocation during public health crises.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential privacy concerns related to wastewater surveillance.
- Financial burden on taxpayers due to the appropriation of $150,000,000 per year.
- Possible resistance from wastewater utilities or service providers.
- Risk of misinterpretation or misuse of surveillance data.
- Uncertainty regarding the long-term effectiveness of the program.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). It also falls under Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8) if the spread of infectious diseases affects interstate travel and economic activity. However, the lack of mandatory compliance for wastewater utilities mitigates potential Fourth Amendment concerns regarding unreasonable searches and seizures.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).