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Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021
3/8/2023, 8:12 PM
Summary of Bill HR 3291
One key aspect of the bill is the expansion of Medicaid coverage to more low-income individuals and families. This expansion would help ensure that more people have access to essential healthcare services, such as doctor visits, prescription medications, and hospital care.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions to improve the quality of healthcare services provided to patients. This includes measures to increase transparency in healthcare pricing, improve patient safety standards, and enhance the overall quality of care delivered by healthcare providers. Furthermore, the Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021 aims to make healthcare more affordable for all Americans. This includes measures to lower prescription drug costs, reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients, and increase access to preventive care services. Overall, Bill 117 HR 3291 seeks to address the challenges facing the healthcare system in the United States by providing assistance to those in need, improving the quality of care, and making healthcare more affordable for all Americans.
Congressional Summary of HR 3291
Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021
This bill provides support for drinking water infrastructure and requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address the safety and affordability of drinking water.
Specifically, the bill reauthorizes and establishes several programs for drinking water infrastructure. For example, it reauthorizes through FY2031 the drinking water state revolving fund.
In addition, the bill revises requirements concerning the safety of drinking water, including by requiring the EPA to promulgate national primary drinking water regulations for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly known as PFAS), microcystin toxin, and 1,4–dioxane. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. Microcystin is a toxin that is produced by certain algae. The solvent known as 1,4–dioxane may also have adverse human health effects. It is used in variety of products, such as adhesives, sealants, and printing inks.
The EPA must also implement a residential emergency relief program that assists customers of public water systems with paying drinking water bill. Under the program, the EPA must provide payments to public water systems to reimburse them for forgiving their customers' debts or fees for services provided since March 1, 2020, in order to help the customers retain, reconnect, or restore water services. Public water systems that receive payments may not disconnect or interrupt their customer's service because of such debt or fees.
Finally, the bill directs the Government Accountability Office to report on issues relating to the potential for consolidation of certain distressed and small public water systems.
