Both the U.S. House and Senate are on recess this week, back in Members’ respective districts and states. However, the House plans to return on August 23, weeks earlier than scheduled, to continue advancing legislation following the Senate’s passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on August 10^th.

Details on the Senate’s bill can be found in last week’s Current article on the topic. The Signal Group, which NACWA has been working with on infrastructure issues, has also prepared a helpful infographic and summary of the full package, available here.

This week, House Leadership led by Speaker of the House Pelosi (D-CA) is charting a path forward both on the bipartisan bill passed by the Senate last week, and on the Budget Resolution – a unique process that Democrats hope to use to pass a second, larger package of investments in social services, climate resilience, and other Democratic priorities.

Moderates and liberals have been jockeying for influence on the timing and process by which both packages will be considered in the House. Meanwhile, having moved first in passing an infrastructure bill and budget resolution last week, the Senate will be on recess until mid-September.

The coming weeks can be a good time to reach out to your Congressional delegations and Senators, especially while they are in their home communities, for meetings and to offer utility site visits this fall.

NACWA continues to engage extensively with Congress as infrastructure discussions advance to support the highest levels of investment in clean water infrastructure in the bipartisan package. The budget resolution process also offers the opportunity to further support utility efforts on climate adaptation and mitigation, as well as water affordability. NACWA coordinated with AMWA to send a joint letter to Congress highlighting these priorities as that process gets underway.

Contact Kristina Surfus or Jason Isakovic, NACWA’s legislative staff, to discuss anytime.