Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - February 13, 2004
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February 13, 2004
Senate Passes Highway Bill,
“Paves” Way for Stormwater Project Funding
The Senate passed the Safe, Affordable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA), S. 1072, yesterday by a vote of 76-21, which would provide for the first time a $958 million set aside for stormwater mitigation projects. Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, initially moved to strike the stormwater provision yesterday, arguing that such a mandate would require states to divert these funds from other “more appropriate” highway construction projects. AMSA organized a coalition letter signed by key organizations, including the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, American Public Works Association, American Water Works Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the Water Environment Federation, among others. The letter was sent to the entire Senate in support of the stormwater funding provision, the passage of which marks a crucial step toward addressing the billions of dollars in expenditures that state and local governments are required to make in controlling stormwater runoff generated by our nation’s highways. In addition to the letter, AMSA participated in numerous congressional meetings to urge the inclusion of the provision in the Senate bill.The inclusion of the stormwater provision in S. 1072 also shows that the water infrastructure issue continues to be a national priority and that Congress is taking an important step in considering the use of dedicated funds to address clean water issues. The House version of the bill, however, does not contain the stormwater funding provision and the stormwater set-aside’s inclusion in the final House-Senate conference package will be contentious. The House, however, has not yet passed its bill and likely will not vote on it for several months. AMSA and its members will continue to use these key months to urge support for the stormwater provision in both the House and Senate to ensure the inclusion of the funding in the final conference package.
Outreach Is Key
to Garnering Broad Support for Clean Water Funding
Frank Luntz, a prominent pollster and communications expert, recently released a key national survey conducted on behalf of AMSA finding that 90% of Americans support a dedicated funding source for clean water. The survey, among many other significant findings, determined that 83% of Americans would support legislation in the U.S. Congress that would create a long-term, sustainable and reliable trust fund for such an initiative. These are telling statistics on the public’s overwhelming support for a dedicated federal funding source for clean water and AMSA requests your help in sharing the survey as broadly as possible. As the presidential election draws near, the environmental records of the candidates will be increasingly scrutinized, making this survey very timely. In an effort to take advantage of this opportunity, AMSA has provided members with the Luntz survey analysis, draft press release, and a draft letter to local officials (http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/leg_outreach.cfm) seeking their support for dedicated funding. AMSA has also sent out a press release to its media contacts stressing the American public’s support for clean water funding. To maximize attention and garner vocal support for this key issue, AMSA will continue to follow up with the national press and will send the survey to all 50 governors and other key stakeholder organizations. AMSA urges members to continue to contact their local media and elected/appointed officials on this critical issue to help make it an election year priority.