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SEWER Act

HR 766 · In committee · last action January 28, 2025

<p><strong>Surveilling Effluent Water for Epidemic Response Act or the SEWER Act</strong></p><p>This bill provides statutory authority for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) program, which detects and monitors pathogens in wastewater. It requires the CDC to expand and intensify the activities of the NWSS, including with respect to SARS-CoV-2&nbsp;(the virus that causes&nbsp;COVID-19), influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).&nbsp;</p><p>The&nbsp;NWSS&nbsp;provides funding and guidance to public health departments for wastewater surveillance activities.&nbsp;Under the NWSS, health departments and other partners coordinate on wastewater&nbsp;surveillance at sampling sites and share data with the CDC. The NWSS was initially&nbsp;implemented&nbsp;to monitor&nbsp;SARS-CoV-2&nbsp;and has since expanded to include influenza A, avian influenza A,&nbsp;mpox, and RSV. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Sponsor

Robert Garcia (D-CA)

Associated votes

No votes recorded against this bill yet — vote coverage is a work in progress.

Official summary

<p><strong>Surveilling Effluent Water for Epidemic Response Act or the SEWER Act</strong></p><p>This bill provides statutory authority for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) program, which detects and monitors pathogens in wastewater. It requires the CDC to expand and intensify the activities of the NWSS, including with respect to SARS-CoV-2&nbsp;(the virus that causes&nbsp;COVID-19), influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).&nbsp;</p><p>The&nbsp;NWSS&nbsp;provides funding and guidance to public health departments for wastewater surveillance activities.&nbsp;Under the NWSS, health departments and other partners coordinate on wastewater&nbsp;surveillance at sampling sites and share data with the CDC. The NWSS was initially&nbsp;implemented&nbsp;to monitor&nbsp;SARS-CoV-2&nbsp;and has since expanded to include influenza A, avian influenza A,&nbsp;mpox, and RSV. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>