Guest Columns

The $1.017 trillion omnibus appropriations bill signed in early May by President Donald Trump finalizes federal agency budgets for the remainder of the 2017 fiscal year and removes the immediate threat of a government shutdown. The bill slightly reduces overall EPA appropriations, but also delivers fresh newRead More

In April, the Trump Administration released a one-page outline of a tax code overhaul that it says will grow the economy, simplify tax filing and lower rates for businesses and middle-income families.  The outline does not definitively indicate whether or not municipal bond interest income would beRead More

 By Cindy Wallis-Lage   Water is both a resource and a challenge. As an optimist — a trait I think I share with many water leaders — I see opportunities and potential solutions when I look at challenges facing the water industry. Leaders in anyRead More

  By David Clamage Nineteenth century French sculptor Auguste Rodin once said, “Even with all the documents, you can never forge nature.” In delivering water to your communities, you don’t so much forge nature as sculpt it to the goals of your community defined byRead More

In March, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) urged Congress to maintain tax-exempt municipal bond interest when lawmakers undertake a comprehensive tax reform bill, joining a letter sent to Capitol Hill organized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ “Don’t Mess With Our Bonds” coalition.Read More

Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives in March would offer more generous terms for loans issued through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) while also giving EPA greater flexibility to adjust drinking water regulations based on the latest scientific data. Sponsored by Rep.Read More

A pair of bills introduced by House Democrats in March would seek to pump billions of additional dollars into water infrastructure repair efforts, but neither proposal is expected to gain the necessary bipartisan support to advance. One of the measures offered was H.R. 1647, theRead More

The State of Michigan is Getting Very Serious about Water Infrastructure, Restoring Public Trust & Protecting Ratepayers –By Gregory M. Baird– A shockwave occurred in the U.S. water industry as the toxic lead findings sent a media mushroom cloud over Flint, Michigan. Every water utilityRead More

Last week, the White House released its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2018. As expected, the proposal includes severe cuts to government agencies but also expands support for some programs related to critical infrastructure. As proposed, the budget would lead to a 31 percent reductionRead More

Water sector representatives testified in Congress last week in support of investment in water infrastructure and the importance of programs like the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and effective steps Congress can take to facilitate further cost-effectiveRead More