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November 7, 2000

Letters of Support on Wet Weather Quality Act of 2000
As reported in last Friday’s FAXAlert, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee leadership is pressing for the incorporation of the Wet Weather Quality Act of 2000 (H.R. 828) into an available appropriations bill before Congress adjourns. AMSA has supported this bill, which provides SSO and CSO grant funding and authorizes money for watershed demonstration projects, as a step forward. At the same time, the National Office has communicated our displeasure at the decision to proceed without SSO liability and stormwater clarification provisions, and urged Congress to return to the issue of infrastructure funding next year to address the $23 billion annual gap in water infrastructure spending.

Before the end of last week’s negotiations, Chairman Bud Shuster secured a commitment by House appropriators to insert the provisions of the bill into the Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education funding package during the "lame duck" session starting November 13. In an attempt to solidify this commitment, the House Committee has urged AMSA to encourage its membership to write letters of support for inclusion of the "environmental infrastructure package" (containing the Wet Weather Quality Act of 2000) into a remaining appropriations bill. There is particular interest in influencing the Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

We ask that you write a letter conveying your support for the incorporation of the Wet Weather Quality Act of 2000 into an available appropriations bill. Please use the attached sample letter, which is similar to a letter AMSA sent to the House Majority leadership last week. This letter should be faxed to the following Members of Congress as soon as possible:

Senator Ted Stevens
Chairman, Appropriations Committee
S-128 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20510-6025
FAX: 202/228-0248

 

 Senator Robert C. Byrd
Ranking Minority Member, Appropriations Committee
S-206 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20510-6025
FAX: 202/224-8553

 
Representative C.W. Bill Young
Chair, Appropriations Committee
H-218 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515-6015
FAX: 202/225-5078 		Representative David Obey
Ranking Minority Member, Appropriations Committee
1016 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-6015
FAX: 202/225-9476

Please feel free to call or email Greg Schaner at 202/296-9836 or gschaner@amsa-cleanwater.org if you have any questions. In addition, we would greatly appreciate receiving a copy of your letter(s) by fax at 202/833-4657 or email at gschaner@amsa-cleanwater.org.

 

 
Sample Letter to House and Senate Appropriators

The Honorable [Name of House Representative or Senator]

[ADDRESS]

Dear [Representative (Last Name)]:

[I] am writing today on behalf of the [Name of your agency] to express my support for inclusion of the environmental infrastructure package, including H.R. 828, the Wet Weather Quality Act, in one of the remaining appropriations bills. Municipalities have worked with Congress on this legislation for the past two years, and while it does not address the complete array of wet weather issues deserving of Congressional attention, we view it as an important and necessary first step to bridge the $23 billion/year water and wastewater funding gap.

We believe passage of this legislation now will signal serious Congressional intent to fully address the critical issue of water/wastewater funding in the 107th Congress. It is for these reasons that we urge your support.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

 

[Name & Agency]