Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - October 5, 2001
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October 5, 2001
As Congress Considers Stimulus Package . . .
AMSA Seeks Water Infrastructure Funds, Member Participation
AMSA and the other Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) members agreed unanimously today to seek Congressional funding for water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades as a key component of the forthcoming economic stimulus package currently being discussed on Capitol Hill.The Association views member input as critical to the ultimate success of this effort All AMSA members are urged to provide the National Office with a cost estimate of the amount of money that can be reasonably spent on ready-to-go construction projects that can be carried out in the next nine to twelve months should stimulus funding become available. These estimates are needed to answer questions from Congressional staff regarding the level of funding Congress may make available for this purpose in the stimulus package. Congress’ stimulus package negotiations will likely occur over the next several weeks, so there is no time for delay. Please forward your cost estimate to Lee Garrigan at lgarrigan@amsa-cleanwater.org or via fax at 202/833-4657.
AMSA also urges each of its members to contact, or request that their mayors and other elected officials contact, their Congressional delegations to achieve the broadest possible support for this funding effort. As background for this outreach effort, AMSA members are encouraged to review the letter that WIN sent today to the Congressional leadership and key committees briefly explaining why water and wastewater projects should be included in the stimulus package. As the letter points out, "investment in water infrastructure has a well-documented record of success in job creation and economic development— for every billion dollars invested in water and wastewater infrastructure construction over 40,000 jobs are created." Additionally, water infrastructure funding has immediate environmental and public health benefits and would jump-start back-logged municipal wastewater projects that demand federal attention and funding now.
A survey of AMSA Board members conducted this week indicated that $2 billion in infrastructure projects are ready to go to construction. Water supply agencies indicated a similar level of construction spending capacity. These projects are in addition to construction efforts that currently are underway and would include new construction starts in collection system repair and replacement, wastewater treatment and drinking water facilities, water reclamation, and stormwater collection. The WIN letter is available on AMSA’s web site at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/private/legreg/outreach/10-05-01lettertohastert.pdf.
Members should also be aware that the stimulus package has become a reality because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which have refocused the nation’s attention on protecting our infrastructure, especially our water and wastewater utilities. Not only must the nation’s vital water infrastructure be protected from external threats, but from internal aging and collapse. AMSA believes stimulus funding for wastewater infrastructure would demonstrate the nation’s commitment to this vital resource and will work towards this goal over the next several weeks.