This week, AGC sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) asking for the Senate to take up and pass the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 before the Senate adjourns in July for their summer recess. Additionally, the AGC co-chaired Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) sent a similar letter, and we joined 86 other associations in a separate letter further reiterating our desire for the Senate to take action.
Passed out of the Environment and Public Works Committee by a large bipartisan majority in April, the Senate WRDA bill authorizes Army Corps of Engineer construction projects and creates a Clean Water Trust Fund—a longtime AGC priority. Creation of a trust fund solely dedicated to water infrastructure opens up many new possibilities for future dedicated revenue prospects.
Other provisions of note include State Revolving Fund and Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act funding for cities with declared lead in water emergencies (like Flint, Mich.), reauthorizing sewer overflow control grants, new funding for technical assistance to small treatment plants, Safe Drinking Water Act compliance assistance for small disadvantaged communities, reauthorizing funding for desalination, and assistance for low-income residents when replacing lead service lines to homes.
AGC, along our fellow water infrastructure stakeholders, will continue to press the Senate and the House to move their respective WRDA bills so a final bill can be sent to the President’s desk as soon as possible.
For more information, please contact Sean O’Neill at oneills@agc.org or (202) 547-8892.