{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/08/12/icymi-budd-applauds-409-4-million-epa-award-to-north-carolina-to-rebuild-improve-drinking-water-infrastructure/", "ICYMI: Budd Applauds $409.4 Million EPA Award to North Carolina to Rebuild, Improve Drinking Water Infrastructure", "2025-08-12", "2025", "2025-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Post-Helene Grant Funding Will Repair State Water System to Ensure Future Access to Safe Drinking Water Amid Response to Natural Disasters\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\u2019s recent allocation of $409.4 million to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) for public water systems. This funding will improve local drinking water utility infrastructure so systems across the state are better equipped to withstand natural disasters.\n\n\u201cSince Hurricane Helene struck last September, repairing Western North Carolina\u2019s damaged infrastructure to be stronger and more reliable in the future has been a key component of all ongoing recovery efforts as Western North Carolina rebuilds,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cI am grateful to President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin for their efforts to ensure North Carolina receives critical grant funding to restructure and reinforce the quality of our water systems, enabling our recovering communities to build more durable infrastructure. This is a step in the right direction to aid reconstruction efforts and mitigate future natural disasters.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn February, I visited communities in Asheville to witness firsthand the crucial role drinking water utilities have in responding to natural disasters,\u201d said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. \u201cThis funding to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will help secure the infrastructure of these systems to ensure EPA can fulfill its core mission to protect human health and the environment.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThese funds are part of the 2025 Supplemental Appropriation for Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the Hawai\u2019i Wildfires, administered by the State Revolving Fund. The funds may be used to improve drinking water treatment, distribute water, improve the source of water supply, replace or construct finished water storage tanks, and complete other infrastructure projects needed to protect public health through improved drinking water infrastructure.\n\nSection 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) authorizes states to utilize funds to further the act\u2019s health protection objectives. Funds will capitalize North Carolina\u2019s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), which may then make low-interest loans with principal forgiveness toward the cost of planning, design, and construction of eligible drinking water improvement projects.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/08/12/icymi-budd-applauds-409-4-million-epa-award-to-north-carolina-to-rebuild-improve-drinking-water-infrastructure/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.201343024149537, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}