|
AMID PROPOSED CUTS DRINKING WATER FUND TOPS $9 BILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
EPA, all 50 states and Puerto Rico have invested almost $9.5 billion in drinking water improvements since 1996, according to the just-released Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) 2005 annual report. The first of its kind, the report focuses on nearly 4,400 projects that have ranged from treatment, transmission and distribution, and rehabilitation of wells to developing new sources of water, upgrading storage facilities, and consolidating water. More information on the DWSRF annual report
Appropriators Act Under Tight Budgetary Constraints
The House Appropriations Committee recently finished marking up its fiscal year 2007 (FY07) bill providing approximately $25.9 billion in funding for the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies. That amount is about $400 million more than the President’s proposed budget, but $200 million less than the $26.1 billion enacted last year. The bill next goes before the full House for consideration.
Despite the EPA-reported success of the state revolving loan fund programs, AGC is dismayed that the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program was funded at only $688 million and the Drinking Water SRF program at only $842 million. AGC has worked with appropriators in the House and Senate to encourage the protection of funding levels for both the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRFs and suggests minimum levels of $850 million for Drinking Water and $1.35 billion for Clean Water.
The House Appropriations Committee's action further highlights the need for a Clean Water Trust Fund to finance clean water infrastructure, a concept endorsed by AGC and Congressman Jimmy Duncan (R-Tenn.) who introduced the Clean Water Trust Act (H.R. 4560) in December. AGC will continue to work to increase funding levels as these bills progresse through Congress.
|
Increased Funding is Needed for the Wastewater and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds and Creation of a Trust Fund to Address the Critical Shortfall
BACKGROUND: On December 15, 2005 House Water Resources Subcommittee Chairman John Duncan (R-Tenn.) introduced H.R. 4560, the Clean Water Financing Act, to establish a dedicated trust fund to fund water quality and wastewater infrastructure needs, similar to trust funds that successfully finance highways and airports. (Click here for a current list of cosponsors).
ACTION ITEM:
To add your voice in support of infrastructure investment for water and wastewater construction, click on: Contact Your Members of Congress
|
[
return to top ]
|
