The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee has introduced its version of a water and wastewater infrastructure funding bill, S. 1961, the Water Investment Act of 2002. The bill would significantly amend the funding sections of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Committee Chairman Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) and ranking member Robert Smith (R-N.H.) were joined by the leadership of the water resources subcommittee, Senators Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) in sponsoring the bill.

The bill authorizes over $20 billion for clean water and $15 billion for safe drinking water over five years and would make the funds available to both public and privately owned systems. It extends several provisions of the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF) to the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (CWSRF) and allows for the transfer of funds between the two.

Visit the WIN Bill Tracker for bill and status information, or view the bill here (THOMAS).