WIN Headlines

FY 2007 Budget Proposal Seeks Deep Cuts to CWSRF
The Bush Administration has once again proposed to dramatically cut clean water funding in its Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 budget for EPA, this year by over $300 million (from FY 2006’s enacted level of $7.625 billion to $7.31 billion). The vast majority of this reduction would be achieved by a proposed cut of approximately $200 million (from $887 million to $687 million) to the Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program. The request marks a clear trend toward the ultimate phase-out of this important program. With the Administration seeking to zero-out this program, WIN is calling on Congress and the White House to support the recently introduced Clean Water Trust Act of 2005, H.R. 4560 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04560:) to address the looming water infrastructure funding gap, which has been estimated at $300 billion over the next 20 years. H.R. 4560 would create a deficit-neutral trust fund that will help guarantee a sustainable and shared federal-state-local investment in clean water and would also secure increased funding for the CWSRF.

WIN Efforts in Support of a Clean Water Trust Fund Result in the Introduction of Landmark Legislation
Representative John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, introduced the Clean Water Trust Act of 2005, H.R. 4560, on December 15, 2005. The bill reauthorizes the funding portion of the Clean Water Act and sets up a federal trust fund to provide approximately $7.5 billion a year for five years to local communities to address clean water infrastructure needs. The introduction of H.R. 4560 is a milestone in the funding effort led by the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN), whose ongoing work played a critical part in its introduction. Chairman Duncan's bill takes the best parts of legislation he introduced in the 108th Congress (H.R. 1560), while also incorporating all of the key programs put forth in the draft trust fund legislation. The bill creates a dedicated, deficit-neutral Clean Water Trust Fund, similar to those that finance highways and airports. For more on the legislation, visit the Library of Congress’ website (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04560:).

WIN applauds clean water trust fund bill introduced by Chairman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.
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Contact your local, state and national officials and alert them to the pressing need for a national clean water trust fund to preserve our nation's water infrastructure. Click here (PDF) to download a one-pager with talking points that demonstrates why we need a trust fund NOW! This one-pager provides critical information that the public, media and elected officials must know - so download and distribute it today.

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