News

Senate Committee Approves Infrastructure Measures

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Wednesday approved several measures awaiting committee consideration, including three bills to authorize funding for water infrastructure, bridge rehabilitation and dam repair. 
  • The Water Infrastructure Financing Act would authorize appropriations totaling $38.5 billion over five years for the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) programs, and for other water infrastructure grant programs.  Specifically, the bill authorizes $20 billion for the Clean Water SRF program, $15 billion for the Safe Drinking Water SRF program, $2 billion for the Sewer Overflow Control Grant program and approximately $1.5 billion for other water infrastructure grant programs.  An amendment was adopted that would apply Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements to any loan made under the SRF programs.  The House approved a similar measure, H.R. 720, which authorized $14 billion over four years for the Clean Water SRF program, by a vote of 303 to 108 on March 9, 2007. 
  • H.R. 3999, The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act would authorize an additional $1 billion in FY 2009 in grants to states to finance the reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges.  The bill also strengthens bridge inspection standards.  The House passed the bill on July 24, 2008 by a vote of 367 to 55.
  • H.R. 3224, The Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act would authorize $200 million over five years for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make grants to states for the rehabilitation and repair of deficient dams. The House passed the bill on October 29, 2007 by a vote of 263 to 102. 
All three bills must now be considered by the full Senate.