Hinson repeatedly voted to weaken protections for Iowan’s drinking water and against funding for drinking water infrastructure.
HEADLINE: “Iowa voters Say Clean Water Is A Top Issue. Ashley Hinson Has Voted To Limit Clean Water Protections” [Iowa Starting Line, 4/21/26]
HEADLINE: “Ashley Hinson Backed Rollbacks As PFAS Contamination Spread” [American Journal News, 5/4/25]
Hinson Voted Against The PFAS Action Act Of 2021, Which Would Have Begun Regulating PFAS In Drinking Water. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, “The U.S. House passed bipartisan legislation Wednesday that would regulate toxic chemicals found in drinking water, as well as designate two types of those toxic chemicals as hazardous substances that would spark federal cleanup standards. The bill,H.R. 2467[1], also known as the PFAS Action Act of 2021, passed 241-183,with 23 Republicans joining Democrats in voting for it. Iowa's delegation divided along party lines, with Democrat Rep. Cindy Axne voting in favor and Republican Reps. Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks voting against. The legislation would direct EPA to start the regulatory process for regulating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in drinking water and making the decision on whether to set drinking water standards for certain types of PFAS or to regulate the entire class, which ranges from 5,000 to 7,000 substances.” [Iowa Capital Dispatch, 7/21/21]
2021: Hinson Voted Against Authorizing More Than $117.5 Billion For Drinking Water Infrastructure And $54.4 Billion For Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure, Which Would Provide Funds For The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, A Low-Income Drinking Water Assistance Program, A Low-Income Wastewater Assistance Program, The Replacement Of Lead Service Lines, And The Improvement Of Water Sanitation Facilities. In July 2021, Hinson voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, “authorize more than $117.5 billion for drinking water infrastructure and $54.4 billion for wastewater treatment infrastructure over ten years. It would authorize $53 billion through 2031 for the EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which provides grants to states to provide loans and other financial assistance to public water systems, and increase the maximum percentage of such funding states may use to assist disadvantaged communities. It would authorize $4.5 billion annually through fiscal 2031 for grants to states to replace lead service lines; $4 billion available until expended for a low-income drinking water assistance program. It would authorize $40 billion through fiscal 2026 for the EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides grants to states to provide loans and other financial assistance related to water treatment infrastructure projects. It would authorize $4 billion for a low-income wastewater assistance program, available until expended. It would authorize $2.6 billion to improve water sanitation facilities funded by the Indian Health Service.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 221-201. The Senate amended the bill and the House voted on the concurrence. The bill ultimately became law. [House Vote 208, 7/1/21; Congressional Quarterly, 7/1/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3684]
2025: Hinson Voted To Limit The Scope Of The Clean Water Act. In December 2025, Hinson voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill, as amended, that would modify the permitting process under the law known as the Clean Water Act, including by limiting the scope of what can be reviewed through the Section 401 certification process, statutorily setting a more narrow definition of what qualifies as waters of the United States to which the permitting process applies and modifying the dredge and fill permitting process overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers. The bill also would expand the types of activities that do not require a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to include the following: aerial discharge of fire retardants; agricultural stormwater discharges; and pesticides that are regulated under the law known as the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. It also would set limits on judicial review of certain dredge and fill permitting actions. Specifically, it would require that legal challenges to EPA approval of a state dredge and fill permitting program be filed within 60 days of the approval being issued. As amended, it would authorize the International Boundary and Water Commission to accept funds for activities relating to wastewater treatment and flood control works. It would establish a voluntary pilot program to support state-led water quality improvements in waters listed as impaired due to nitrogen or phosphorus. It also would direct the secretary of the Army to identify parcels of federal land suitable for aquifer recharge projects and require agencies to establish expedited permitting pathways.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 221 to 205. [House Vote 330, 12/11/25; Congressional Quarterly, 12/11/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3898]
Hinson’s Spokesperson Claimed That Hinson Supported The PERMIT Act And “Other Bills That Get Government Out Of The Way Of Infrastructure Projects In The State.” According to the Des Moines Register, “A spokesperson for Hinson said the representative was supportive of the PERMIT Act and other bills that get government out of the way of infrastructure projects in the state.” [Des Moines Register, 8/29/25]
Environmentalist Groups Wrote A Letter To Iowa’s Congressional Delegation To Oppose The PERMIT Act Which Would Limit The Scope Of The Clean Water Act. According to Des Moines Register, “The groups in the letter say Iowa is ‘on the frontlines of a drinking water emergency’ and the changes the bill plans to make to the Clean Water Act would exacerbate the problems in Iowa. The Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today, or PERMIT Act, seeks to ‘limit the scope’ of the Clean Water Act, which has been in place since 1972.” [Des Moines Register, 8/29/25]
Hinson Voted to Cut The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund By 19 Percent And The Clean Water State Revolving Fund By 25 Percent. According to the Iowa starting Line, “In July 2025, Hinson voted to cut the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund by 19% and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund by 25%—providing the lowest levels of funding since 2008. These federal programs help Iowa communities maintain treatment infrastructure.” [Iowa Starting Line, 4/21/26]
Hinson Voted Against Increasing Funding For Rural Water And Waste Grants. According to the Iowa Starting Line, “A month earlier, she voted against increased funding for rural water and waste grants, part of a funding package that would cut $44 million in such grants nationally.” [Iowa Starting Line, 4/21/26]
Hinson Voted Against The American Rescue Plan Which Delivered $38 Million For Water Infrastructure Projects. According to the Iowa Starting Line, “And in 2021, Hinson voted against the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which ultimately delivered $38 million for Iowa water infrastructure projects. When federal and state funding later dried up, Polk County was left using remaining ARPA funds to keep a critical water quality monitoring network alive.” [Iowa Starting Line, 4/21/26]