Briefing on Water Trust Fund Garners Significant Attention on Capitol Hill

The Water Infrastructure Network (WIN), in conjunction with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), United Rentals and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), held a briefing on Capitol Hill July 26 highlighting the significant need for Congress to enact a dedicated trust fund for water and wastewater infrastructure investments. The briefing garnered significant attention with over 100 attendees gathered to hear compelling statements from a diverse set of panelists highlighting the economic, environmental and job-creation benefits a trust fund would provide.

George Hawkins, General Manager of DC Water, participated on behalf of NACWA in the briefing and underscored the importance of advancing the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 3202) — the water trust fund bill introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.). Mr. Hawkins’ comments emphasized the clean water infrastructure needs throughout the Nation are in the hundreds of billions of dollars as estimated in the recent EPA Clean Watersheds Needs Survey. Mr. Hawkins stressed the benefits of H.R. 3202, underscoring that it would be a deficit-neutral source of funding that would re-establish the federal government as a long-term partner with states and municipalities in clean water investment.

Also making presentations at the briefing were Shirley Franklin, former Mayor of Atlanta (2002-2010); Tom McCauley, Mayor of Buhl, Idaho; Ken Simonson, AGC’s Chief Economist; Paul I. McDonnell, Senior Vice President of United Rentals; and Maria Hale, NWF’s Director of National Restoration and Water Resources Campaigns.

With the momentum created by this briefing, NACWA urges you to contact your Representatives and encourage them to add their names to the 40 co-sponsors of H.R. 3202.