Clean Water Current

(February 6, 2019) – Director of Charlotte Water, Angela Lee, will testify this week on behalf of NACWA and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), in front of the full House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee regarding the needs of the clean water sector.

The Committee’s hearing, entitled The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investing in Our Nation’s Infrastructure Cannot Wait, will examine the current state of the nation’s infrastructure issues and needs across a wide array of sectors including clean water, highways, bridges, transit systems, ports, and airports. 

The specific focus from the clean water perspective will include the need for strong federal investment, ways to address affordability concerns, long-term workforce issues, and climate resiliency, as well as other potential policies and tools to help communities and public utilities better meet their growing clean water obligations.

NACWA is grateful for the opportunity to have Angela Lee testify and appreciates Chairman Peter Defazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) bipartisan commitments to the public clean water sector.

In related news, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA) has been named Chair of the T&I Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, and Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) has been named as the ranking member.  During the last (115th) Congress, Congresswoman Napolitano served as the subcommittee’s ranking member.  Congressman Westerman is new to the subcommittee, and will be serving for the first time as a subcommittee leader.  NACWA looks forward to working with both members during the 116th Congress. 

The full Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee rosters will be announced during this week’s hearing as well. Please contact Kristina Surfus or Jason Isakovic, NACWA’s Legislative Directors, with any questions.