Member Pipeline - Fax Alerts - November 14, 2003
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November 14, 2003
AMSA Helps $958 Million Stormwater Amendment Pass Senate Committee
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee successfully marked up the Safe, Affordable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003, S. 1072 (SAFETEA). Included in S. 1072 was a key AMSA-supported amendment offered by Senators John Warner (R-VA) and Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), which would ensure $958 million is targeted for highway stormwater mitigation projects over the next six years. The amendment received solid bipartisan support within the Committee and would provide funding for projects such as stormwater retrofits, the recharge of groundwater, natural filters, stream restoration, minimization of stream bank erosion, innovative technologies, and others. AMSA worked closely with key EPW Senators to help reach agreement on the amendment, sending several timely letters to EPW Senators urging their support of the amendment. To view these letters, visit AMSA’s website at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/releases/2003-11-11-03cornyn.pdf. After the successful inclusion of the amendment in S. 1072, AMSA distributed a press release to its media contacts to garner national attention on the importance of stormwater funding. AMSA’s press release can be found at http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/advocacy/releases/111203.cfm.In additional funding news, Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Veterans’ Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies (VA-HUD) Appropriations Subcommittee voiced her strong support for increased water infrastructure funding, calling for a vote on behalf of her amendment to increase the drinking water and clean water state revolving funds by $3 billion. Although a waiver, which would have allowed the amendment’s consideration, was voted down by a close 49-44 vote, Senator Mikulski spoke strongly about the important work of the Water Infrastructure Network and its member organizations and vowed to continue to work on behalf of the funding issue, demonstrating that water infrastructure funding has key champions in Congress. AMSA and WIN will continue to work with Senator Mikulski and other key congressional allies on behalf of long-term infrastructure funding.
AMSA to Release Member Needs Assessment, Gather Key Input from Membership
Headed up by its Strategic Planning Committee and Board of Directors, AMSA is in the first phase of its critical Strategic Planning Initiative, which will provide the Association with key information from the membership on how AMSA can continue to provide the highest level of service to all members. The first phase of this strategic planning process initiative is AMSA’s Member Needs Assessment. This Needs Assessment will serve as an important resource for a facilitated strategic planning session scheduled for February. AMSA asks that all members complete the short survey, which is available at http://websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/14815/AMSAsurvey.htm. Hard copies of the survey will be made available in the near future for those who prefer to respond in this manner. Member Update 03-21 provides additional specifics regarding the Needs Assessment and the associated Strategic Planning Initiative. AMSA thanks you in advance for taking the time out of your busy schedules to help us make sure we continue to provide you with the highest level of service possible. Please contact AMSA’s Deputy Executive Director, Paula Dannenfeldt, at pdannenfeldt@amsa-cleanwater.org or 202/833-4654, with any questions concerning the Member Needs Assessment or the broader Strategic Planning Initiative.