Illinois lawmaker promotes welfare water aid bill as critics raise
concerns over federal expansion
[June 29, 2026]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – A proposal to permanently restore a federal water
assistance program is drawing criticism from policy analysts who say it
would further expand an already costly federal welfare system, even as
supporters argue it is needed to prevent water shutoffs for low-income
households.
U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline,posted a statement on X highlighting
the Low-Income Water Assistance Program Establishment Act, which would
permanently re-establish the Low-Income Household Water Assistance
Program.
He says the program previously helped more than 1.5 million households
nationwide and about 84,000 in Illinois before expiring in 2022. The
program would provide federal funding through states to help eligible
households pay water and wastewater bills and avoid shutoffs.
“The number one issue worrying my neighbors in Central and Northwestern
Illinois is affordability,” Sorensen said in a news release. “My
bipartisan legislation will help make it a permanent lifeline for those
who need a helping hand.”
The bill is co-sponsored by several lawmakers, including Rep. Rob
Bresnahan, R-Pa., who said rising utility costs are forcing more than
one-third of Americans to struggle with water bills.
“Access to clean, safe water is not a luxury, it is a basic necessity,”
Bresnahan said.
But Rachel Sheffield, a research fellow in welfare and family policy at
The Heritage Foundation, questioned whether a new federal program is the
right approach.
“The federal government already funds 90 different means-tested
assistance programs at a cost of roughly $1.7 trillion annually,”
Sheffield told The Center Square in a recent interview. “Any new program
should be considered in the broader context of what we’re already
spending.”
Sheffield said lawmakers should focus on improving existing programs and
encouraging upward mobility rather than expanding federal benefits.
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A water shut-off valve in the ground. Photo: Emilee Calametti / The
Center Square
“We should be focusing on how to better use the resources we already
have and making sure programs promote upward mobility rather than simply
acting as a one-way transfer of benefits,” she said.
She also argued that responsibility for utility assistance should rest
more with state and local governments.
“Most welfare spending already comes from the federal government,”
Sheffield said. “This is something states could potentially consider,
but we don’t need more federal programs for that.”
Sheffield further raised concerns about long-term dependency if
assistance programs are expanded without requirements tied to work or
training.
“Programs should, for able-bodied adults, be tied to work or job
training,” she said. “Otherwise, they can become long-term solutions
instead of temporary assistance.”
Supporters of LIHWAP say the program is designed to function as a safety
net for essential services, similar to federal energy assistance
programs, and is especially important as utilities face rising costs and
rate increases in multiple states, including Illinois.
The legislation would direct federal funding through states to pay water
utilities directly on behalf of eligible households, with administrative
funds allowed for outreach and eligibility determination.
The bill has drawn backing from major utility and municipal
organizations, including the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies,
the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
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