WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the Senate passed the 2020 Interior-Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act which will now be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) applauds Congress for its decision to provide substantial funding for a variety of initiatives that are critical to the continued success of the public clean water sector.
The final language includes an additional $200 million in EPA funding, for a total of $9.06 billion. Of this total funding, $1.6 billion is for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), $28 million for Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Control Grants, $1 million for the Water Workforce and Infrastructure and Utility Development Grants; as well as language to ensure timely implementation of the Integrated Planning Clean Water Act Amendment that passed in January.
“NACWA has worked tirelessly with both the House and Senate during this process to ensure that the needs of the public clean water sector are met,” said Adam Krantz, the CEO of NACWA. “The legislation passed today provides new funding for key clean water priorities while also underscoring the importance of allowing communities the freedom to better sequence and prioritize their obligations and investments under the Clean Water Act’s Integrated Planning provision. The inclusion of the sewer and stormwater grant funding is especially noteworthy as it signals Congress’s recognition that federal grant dollars – and not just loans – are critical to addressing our nation’s clean water infrastructure needs.”
NACWA thanks the committee members and chairs who championed this legislation, as well as our member utilities who worked to inform their members and communities.