With Congress set to adjourn for the year by mid-December, the House and Senate are working quickly to finalize all outstanding remaining legislation. Congressional focus is on “must pass” legislation to fund the government past its current December 11 expiration date.

(December 2, 2020) –NACWA submitted comments November 19 on EPA’s Draft Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks:1990-2019 as part of the expert review process.

A workgroup of NACWA members met on November 23 to discuss Action 2.2.4 of EPA's Water Reuse Action Plan

With the continued uncertainly around COVID-19, the National Water Policy Fly-In partners have made the decision to not hold an in-person event in 2021.

Raftlis recently completed a nationwide utility survey, with the assistance of NACWA and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), to better understand the financial impact on water sector utilities from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last two weeks seem to have marked an important turning point in what has been the long and drawn out saga of the 2020 election – some sense of finality and, finally, an opportunity to look to the future. President Trump, while not yet officially conceding the presidential race, paved the way on November 23 for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris to receive full access to federal agencies and federal funds for the transition process – all but ending any suspense over who will inhabit the White House come January 20.

For this valuable program, the Great Lakes Water Authority was recognized with a National Environmental Achievement Award in the Workforce Development category during NACWA's Winter Conference in February 2020. Congratulations to GLWA and everyone involved!

NACWA was invited this week to meet with members of the Biden-Harris transition EPA Agency Review Team (ART) and provide input on key priorities the Association thinks the incoming presidential administration should focus on when taking office.

With Congressional leadership continuing to discuss the next phase of COVID-19 relief, NACWA and other water sector advocacy groups sent a letter to Congress this week emphasizing the need for directing federal assistance to households struggling to pay their water bills, the challenges presented by broad water shutoff moratoriums and the need for aid to utilities to recover from the pandemic.

As the deadline fast approaches to fund the government past its current December 11th expiration date, the Senate recently introduced its Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) appropriations bills.

NACWA filed comments this week supporting the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) proposal to establish new streamlined Clean Water Act Section 404 permits for the construction, maintenance and removal of water and wastewater infrastructure and water reclamation and reuse facilities.

Market-based approaches like water quality trading have been a priority for the current political leadership of EPA’s Office of Water since day one, but other issues have diverted their attention from taking any significant action.