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Support Legislative Efforts to Codify Integrated Planning

What You Can Do: Contact your Members of Congress about the value of addressing the affordability challenge and providing municipalities with flexibility in meeting Clean Water Act obligations

NACWA is pleased to see significant progress being made on the issue of Integrated Planning and water infrastructure affordability.

In the Senate, the Environment and Public Works Committee reported out S.692, the Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act on April 5, 2017.  The bipartisan legislation is sponsored by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Ben Cardin (D-MD), along with Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Rob Portman (R-OH), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). The legislation is very similar to language which passed the full Senate last Congress as part of the 2016 Water Resources Development Act package and NACWA is advocating for similarly strong bipartisan passage this Congress. NACWA urges our members to reach out to your Senators and ask them to cosponsor the bill. 

In the House, various proposals on Integrated Planning have been introduced including:

  • H.R. 465, the Water Quality Improvement Act led by Rep. Gibbs (R-OH)
  • H.R. 1971, the Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act, a companion to S.692 led by Rep. Smucker (R-PA)
  • H.R. 2355, the Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act, bipartisan companion legislation to S.692 led by Reps. Latta (R-OH), Bustos (D-IL), Fudge (D-OH), Joyce (R-OH), Napolitano (D-CA), and Smucker (R-PA)
The House bills have been referred to the Transportation & Infrastructure and Energy & Commerce committees. The Transportation & Infrastructure Committee held an oversight hearing focused on integrated planning and affordability on May 18, 2017. NACWA submitted written testimony for the hearing. NACWA also urges its members to reach out to respective Congressional delegations. 

Take Action Now!

Please write your Member of Congress today to urge support for advancing Integrated Planning in Congress!

Senate Resources: House Resources:

For more information, please contact Kristina Surfus, NACWA Legislative Director.