AGC Urges the House to Vote “YES” on H.R. 720, Clean Water Funding

March 7, 2007

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), I am writing to urge you to vote “yes” on H.R. 720, the Water Quality Financing Act of 2007, when it comes up for consideration on the House floor in the upcoming days.  H.R. 720 would renew the federal commitment to clean water by reauthorizing the highly successful, but under funded, Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) at a level of $14 billion over the next four years. 

Reports by three federal agencies have estimated that $300 to $500 billion is needed over the next 20 years to address wastewater collection and treatment needs nationwide.  Failing to reinvest in this critical infrastructure necessary to protect human health and the environment threatens to reverse the gains achieved by the Clean Water Act since it was enacted 35 years ago. 

In addition to the investment called for in H.R. 720, AGC supports creation of a long-term, sustainable, off-budget source of funding for clean water by creating a dedicated trust fund to finance the construction and maintenance of wastewater facilities.  Recent polling shows that an overwhelming majority – 86 percent of Americans – would support the creation of such a trust fund.  H.R. 720 makes a first step towards this goal by calling on the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study to assist Congress in quickly identifying a dedicated source(s) of revenue to establish a Clean Water Trust Fund that would ensure the availability of appropriations to fund clean water needs over the long-term.

AGC strongly supports H.R. 720 and the benefits a renewed federal commitment to clean water would provide to our nation’s quality of life.  Again, AGC urges you to vote “yes” on H.R. 720. 

Sincerely,

Jeffrey D. Shoaf
Senior Executive Director
Government and Public Affairs