Washington Report

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House proposes additional $30 billion for lead service line replacement

Public Utility Finance, Washington Report, Water Finance September 13, 2021 at 8:50 am

House Democrats are proposing an additional $30 billion in federal funds for lead service line replacement efforts nationwide, a figure that would be in addition to $15 billion for lead service line replacements that was included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) approved by the SenateRead More

EPA announces $25 million in WIIN grants

EPA announces $25 million in WIIN grants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of $25 million in Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act grants to help improve drinking water. EPA says it is committed to ensuring that all Americans, especially those living in small towns andRead More

EPA receives 50 new requests for WIFIA funding totaling $8.2 billion

EPA receives 50 new requests for WIFIA funding totaling $8.2 billion

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has received 50 letters of interest in response to the agency’s 2021 Notices of Funding Availability. Requests totaling $8.2 billion exceed the agency’s $6.5 billion in available financing and highlight widespread needs for water infrastructure upgrades to benefit communities across theRead More

Senate passes infrastructure bill with major SRF increases

Senate passes infrastructure bill with major SRF increases

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act after months of bipartisan negotiations between the Biden Administration and a bipartisan group of Senators. The legislative package contains $550 billion in new spending, of which $55 billion will go toward clean andRead More

Infrastructure bill moves forward in Senate

Infrastructure bill moves forward in Senate

The U.S. Senate worked into the weekend on a massive infrastructure bill that promises to spend an additional $550 billion on infrastructure over five years, including $48.4 billion focused on drinking water and wastewater programs at the U.S. EPA. As of Friday, the measure appearedRead More

House passes PFAS Action Act, but there’s one problem

House passes PFAS Action Act, but there’s one problem

Washington Report, Water Management July 26, 2021 at 10:10 am

Last week, the House of Representatives approved legislation that would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish national drinking water standards for regulating harmful forever chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), that are linked to kidney, liver and other health problems.Read More

Biden administration, Senators agree on bipartisan infrastructure framework

Biden administration, Senators agree on bipartisan infrastructure framework

Washington Report, Water Finance June 28, 2021 at 10:11 am

The Biden administration and a bipartisan group of senators last week reached agreement on a $1.2 trillion “Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework” that could set the stage for a massive new investment in the nation’s infrastructure, according to the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA). According toRead More

Senate confirms Fox to lead EPA’s Office of Water

Senate confirms Fox to lead EPA’s Office of Water

Washington Report June 17, 2021 at 3:44 pm

The Senate voted on Wednesday to confirm Radhika Fox as the new Assistant Administrator for Water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Her nomination was confirmed by a vote of 55-43. Fox served as CEO of the nonprofit US Water Alliance since 2015 untilRead More

Low-income water assistance program formally launched

Low-income water assistance program formally launched

The White House last week announced the official launch of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) housed at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).  This program is the first of its kind designed to provide funding to help low-income households affected by the COVID-19Read More

Congress, water sector signal optimism for major investment

Congress, water sector signal optimism for major investment

Washington Report, Water Finance May 3, 2021 at 9:00 am

On Thursday the U.S. Senate voted to pass S. 914, the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA). It is the first infrastructure bill approved by the Senate this Congress. The bipartisan, comprehensive clean water and drinking water infrastructure legislation will authorize strong annual water infrastructure investmentRead More