Senate panel approves spending bill to maintain WIFIA, SRF funds

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved its version of FY19 EPA spending legislation that would maintain level funding for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, as well as the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.  The full Senate could vote on the spending bill later this summer.

The bill would provide the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF programs $1.164 billion and $1.694 billion, respectively – about equal to current levels.  WIFIA funding would also stay level at $63 million, including $8 million reserved to cover administrative expenses. In a press release, committee Democrats said the WIFIA appropriation could be leveraged into $6 billion worth of loans.