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Member Pipeline - Action Alert - February 15, 2007

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February 15, 2007

Immediate Member Action Needed!

NACWA Urges Members to Contact Congress to Support Funding Bills
Two important bills that would authorize billions of dollars in funding for clean water infrastructure are likely to see action the week of Feb. 26 on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. NACWA urges its members to contact their Representatives as soon as possible and ask them to support the legislation (http://www.nacwa.org/private/cwc/20070207se.cfm).

The Water Quality Financing Act of 2007 (H.R. 720) would reauthorize the clean water state revolving fund at (CWSRF) $20 billion over five years and includes provisions to study mechanisms and resources available to establish a clean water trust fund. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the bill, which includes the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage provisions, in a bipartisan 55-13 vote.

The Water Quality Investment Act of 2007 (H.R. 569) would authorize $1.8 billion in grants from fiscal year 2008-2012 to address sewer overflows and was approved by the committee unanimously.

NACWA strongly supports both bills and asks that members call or click on the “Write Congress Now” icon on the Association’s website (www.nacwa.org) and then go to the “Compose Your Own Message” link to send an e-mail to their representatives without delay asking them to support the bills. Many members of Congress will return home to their districts for the President’s Day recess next week, making it an ideal time to contact them. To assist in this effort, NACWA drafted some key points that can be used when writing your e-mails. Please don’t hesitate to add any local information on funding needs that would help garner the support of your member of Congress.

Key Points on H.R. 720, the Water Quality Financing Act of 2007

  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) estimate the funding gap for clean water infrastructure at $300-$500 billion over 20 years, and existing mechanisms for addressing this gap fall far short.

  • H.R. 720 would provide $20 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) over five years and would reverse a trend of decreasing federal dollars for water infrastructure projects.

  • The bill enjoys the broad bipartisan support of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and the same support should be given when the bill comes up for a vote by the full House later this week.

  • NACWA and (name of your agency) strongly supports provisions calling for a GAO study on potential mechanisms and resources to establish a clean water trust fund. A trust fund, similar to what is available for highways and airports, is the most realistic option for financing the nation’s clean water infrastructure.

  • The Water Quality Financing Act of 2007 is only the first step. Congress must act to translate this authorization into real dollars, and NACWA stands ready to assist in this effort.

  • (Name of your agency) alone has ($$$$) in clean water infrastructure needs.

  • With the 35th anniversary of the Clean Water Act just around the corner, we should be moving forward — not backwards — to ensure a significant federal recommitment to clean water infrastructure that will benefit the nation’s waterways.

Key Points on H.R. 569, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2007

  • NACWA and (Name of your agency) strongly support H.R. 569, which would authorize $1.8 billion in grants for combined and sanitary sewer overflow (CSO & SSO) control projects over six years.

  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that combined and sanitary sewer over control costs nationally total nearly $150 billion and H.R. 569 demonstrates a key step toward a federal commitment in meeting these tremendous needs.

  • (Your clean water agency) estimates that local CSO and SSO control costs are ($$$$$).

  • As the nation’s environmental stewards, NACWA’s member agencies are committed to controlling CSO and SSOs and ensuring continued water quality progress — fully funding H.R. 569 would help to meet the lofty objectives of the Clean Water Act.