Washington Report

Water sector urges advance refunding as House panel moves on tax reform

Water sector urges advance refunding as House panel moves on tax reform

November 15, 2017 at 11:58 am 0 comments

The House Ways and Means Committee approved a comprehensive tax reform bill by a party line vote last week, sending the measure to the House floor. The full House is expected to consider the bill this week. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) is the HouseRead More

Trump nominates Wheeler for EPA Deputy Administrator

Trump nominates Wheeler for EPA Deputy Administrator

October 6, 2017 at 10:01 pm 0 comments

President Donald Trump has announced Andrew Wheeler as his nominee for EPA Deputy Administrator, the number two position at the agency. Wheeler has an extensive background with environmental law and policy. He started his career with EPA and later worked for Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.),Read More

Office of Water nominee Ross testifies before Senate

Office of Water nominee Ross testifies before Senate

October 6, 2017 at 9:21 pm 0 comments

At a Senate committee hearing on Oct. 4, David Ross, President Trump’s nominee to lead the EPA’s Office of Water, testified on his commitment to working with states and his strong belief in cooperative federalism. Ross commented that, if confirmed, he would ensure the Office of WaterRead More

Hawkins to step down as DC Water CEO

Hawkins to step down as DC Water CEO

September 7, 2017 at 5:28 pm 0 comments

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) has announced that CEO and General Manager George S. Hawkins will step down from his current role as of Dec. 29. Hawkins, 57, joined DC Water in 2009. His departure from DC Water will cap aRead More

Udall introduces WaterSense, energy efficiency bills

Udall introduces WaterSense, energy efficiency bills

August 7, 2017 at 10:26 am 0 comments

A pair of bills introduced last week by Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) would formally authorize EPA’s WaterSense program and authorize a new Department of Energy program to support demonstration projects that deliver water and energy efficiency improvements. The Water Efficiency Improvement Act (S. 1700) wouldRead More

WateReuse members testify before Senate committee

WateReuse members testify before Senate committee

August 7, 2017 at 9:21 am 0 comments

In testimony before the U.S. Senate on Aug. 2, four WateReuse Association members highlighted water reuse as a key strategy in developing reliable local water supplies. The Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Water and Power, convened the hearing to examine increasingRead More

House panel approves 6.5 percent EPA cut

House panel approves 6.5 percent EPA cut

July 24, 2017 at 9:32 am 0 comments

The House Appropriations Committee has approved an FY18 spending bill that would cut EPA’s funding by 6.5 percent next year. The cut is far short of the 31 percent cut sought by President Donald Trump but still severe enough to reduce overall agency funding toRead More

Optimism, Uncertainty Persist as Clean Water Initiatives Take Shape

Optimism, Uncertainty Persist as Clean Water Initiatives Take Shape

June 20, 2017 at 10:40 am 0 comments

By Kristina Surfus With the major changes that came to Washington, D.C. this year, both in the White House and Congress, the municipal clean water sector is seeing new challenges as well as opportunities to advocate for clean water as a bipartisan federal priority. The NationalRead More

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Construction crew strikes water main at Geary and Montgomety streets

Poll: Americans demand federal action on infrastructure

May 16, 2017 at 12:43 pm 0 comments

The Value of Water Campaign recently released the results to a new poll that reveals Americans’ level of satisfaction with infrastructure systems and emphasis being placed on prioritizing critical projects by the federal government. The poll, commissioned by the Value of Water Campaign, found that moreRead More

AWWA applauds Congress for WIFIA boost

AWWA applauds Congress for WIFIA boost

May 10, 2017 at 8:23 am 0 comments

The American Water Works Association applauded Congress for appropriating an additional $10 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). The additional $10 million brings WIFIA funding in 2017 to $30 million, which can leverage an estimated $1.5 billion in federal loans. Because WIFIA canRead More