Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - March 1, 2002
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March 1, 2002
AMSA Testifies on Senate Water Investment Act,
Members Urged to Contact their Senators on Key Bill Changes
AMSA's Vice President and Executive Director of the Narragansett Bay Commission, Paul Pinault, testified yesterday before the Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Water, sharing the Association's initial assessment of the Senate's Water Investment Act of 2002 (S. 1961). Pinault's testimony offered several key recommendations that AMSA, after discussions with its membership, believes will improve the bill. These include: (1) focusing more on core infrastructure needs, including repair and replacement of aging pipes and facilities; (2) combining significant grant funding with loans to demonstrate the federal government's long-term commitment to water and wastewater infrastructure; (3) streamlining state funding procedures without adding new and unnecessary administrative or regulatory requirements; and (4) increasing investment in clean and safe water technology and management innovation. AMSA's full testimony is available at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/testimony/2-28-02testimony.cfm and the bill itself can be downloaded at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/legalrts/la02-01a.pdf.
Contact Your Senators, Recommend Critical Modifications to S. 1961!
To ensure that these and other critical modifications are made to S. 1961, we are undertaking an across-the-board effort from our members to contact their Senators, especially members whose Senators serve on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. For your convenience, AMSA has prepared a list of recommended modifications to S.1961 that we ask you to attach to letters, faxes or e-mails you send to your Senators, or as talking points in telephone discussions or meetings with your Senators, on S. 1961. EPW is likely to mark up S. 1961 in mid-March so time is of the essence. The list of AMSA's recommended modifications to S. 1961 is available at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/legalrts/la02-02b.pdf. Members will also receive Legislative Alert 02-02 today, providing more details on AMSA's call-to-action on S. 1961. Because of your efforts, Congress is focusing on the critical issue of our nation's water and wastewater infrastructure, and AMSA thanks you for your continued vital involvement in S.1961.
House Sets Focus on Water Infrastructure Legislation
AMSA will also be discussing with its members and its partner organizations in the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) the recent introduction of H.R. 3792 by Representatives Sue Kelly (R-NY) and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) that would provide $25 billion to the Clean Water SRF over five years, with a significant grant component. Also of great significance is the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee infrastructure bill expected any day now. AMSA and WIN will be intimately involved with these legislative efforts and will keep Association members fully apprised of these evolving initiatives in future Alerts and Updates.
AMSA’s First in a Series of Asset Management Conferences Is a Huge Success
AMSA's first in a series of four asset management workshops comes to a close today and was a giant success as the concept gains national prominence. The second conference will be held in Baltimore, Md., on April 4-5 and is selling out quickly. The workshops are limited to only 100 participants so AMSA strongly urges you to register soon! Registration information is available at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/meetings/02regwork/.