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March 12, 2004 AMSA Fax Alert

Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - March 12, 2004

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March 12, 2004

Senate Passes Amendment
to Increase Funding for Clean Water, Drinking Water

The Senate this week passed an amendment spearheaded by Senators Paul Sarbanes (D-MD, Michael Crapo (R-ID), and James Jeffords (I-VT) that would provide $3 billion in budget authority for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (CWSRF) and $2 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF), more than double the SRFs current funding levels. This amendment demonstrates a continuing awareness of, and commitment to, the need to assist local communities in meeting the growing infrastructure funding challenge. Passage of the Senate budget bill was preceded by the receipt of a March 10 coalition letter (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/co/2004-03-9-04srf.pdf) that AMSA, the National Research Defense Council (NRDC) and American Rivers, drafted. Over 28 other organizations joined the effort as cosignatories. The letter was sent to all members of the Senate urging their support for the amendment. While AMSA believes it is necessary for the SRF to be funded at these higher levels, the Association will continue to focus its legislative efforts on a federal long-term dedicated funding source for clean water.

AMSA Meets with Kerry’s
Campaign Strategist on Clean Water Infrastructure

William Schatz, Vice President of AMSA and General Counsel for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Cleveland, Ohio, joined AMSA staff this week at a meeting with Tad Devine, a consultant and campaign strategist for Senator and presidential candidate John Kerry. Discussions focused on heightening visibility of clean water issues, especially the need for a federal recommitment to funding, in the national election campaign and debates. AMSA shared an overview memo (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/co/2004-03-09tad.pdf) on the clean water funding issue, along with the Frank Luntz surveys, in which Devine expressed a marked interest. Devine took particular interest in the public’s view that if the US is willing to fund Iraq and Afghanistan’s water infrastructure with billions of dollars, the same if not a greater federal investment should be spent on U.S. infrastructure. AMSA will continue its work to heighten awareness of the clean water funding issue in order to garner the bipartisan support it requires for successful legislative action.

AMSA Seeks Member Support
for Continued Legislation to Fund Biosolids Program

AMSA has directly contacted public agency members whose Congressional delegates sit on the Senate and House Appropriations Committees to request that $1 million to fund the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) is included in EPA’s fiscal year 2005 budget bill. Included in the correspondence was a sample letter for members to use as a template when writing their member of Congress, along with contact information for their respective members. Discussions on Capitol Hill suggest that earmarked appropriations may be significantly limited, for this reason it is critical that Representatives and Senators hear the voices of the wastewater community on behalf of NBP funding. The Association urges all its members to use its “click-and-send” e-mail service to obtain your delegates’ support for the NBP funding. This easy-to-use template letter is available by double-clicking on the Write Congress Now icon on AMSA’s homepage (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org). AMSA, in partnership with the Water Environment Federation, has successfully obtained $1 million in congressional appropriations each of the past six years for the NBP and will continue its efforts to ensure full funding in Congress’s FY 05 budget.