AMWA Tells House Panel To Invest In Infrastructure, Hold Polluters Accountable

Congress should act this year to increase federal investments in drinking water infrastructure, hold polluters accountable for cleaning up environmental PFAS pollution, and establish a permanent federal low-income water affordability assistance program, AMWA told House lawmakers last week at a hearing that looked at a range of drinking water policy issues.

The House Environment Subcommittee convened the hearing, entitled “Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water,” to collect information from stakeholders about the current state of the nation’s water systems and water quality, and to explore additional measures the federal government could take to address the challenges and increase public health protections.

AMWA was represented by Lindsey Rechtin, President and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Water District and a member of AMWA’s Board of Directors. Ms. Rechtin was invited by the Environment Subcommittee to provide witness testimony at the hearing on AMWA’s behalf.

“Water systems are the unseen engines of America's economic and public health infrastructure, yet in 2026 they stand at a crossroads,” Ms. Rechtin told lawmakers in her prepared testimony, “AMWA is eager to work with this subcommittee to ensure that all Americans have access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water.”

In support of maintaining and increasing federal support for water infrastructure investment, AMWA’s testimony detailed the findings of a recent report from the Value of Water Campaign. That study found that every $1 million invested in water infrastructure generates $2.5 million in economic output, and $1.4 million worth of GDP growth, while also supporting additional growth in certain economic sectors.

AMWA’s testimony also reiterated the association’s well-established support for several other policy priorities, such as providing CERCLA liability protections for water systems and other passive receivers of PFAS, re-establishing the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) as a permanent water affordability program, and providing additional resources to expand the reach of WaterISAC and taking other steps to help water systems enhance their cybersecurity posture.

Ms. Rechtin also spoke to AMWA’s support for the current contaminant regulatory process under the Safe Drinking Water Act – something that some congressional Democrats have indicated an interest in amending to make it easier for EPA to quickly promulgate additional drinking water regulations.

“AMWA urges this subcommittee to remain committed to ensuring that any new national primary drinking water regulations promulgated by EPA are cost-effective, based on sound science, and will present opportunities for public health improvements,” Ms. Rechtin testified. “Otherwise, establishing drinking water standards without regard to the cost will cause water systems to divert scarce resources and will lead to higher water rates for customers across the country.”

Environment Subcommittee leaders did not articulate any firm next steps to follow the hearing, but it came in advance of the scheduled expiration of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and several other authorized water infrastructure assistance programs later this year. Congress is widely expected to take up legislation to reauthorize those programs before the end of the year, so the hearing represents the type of oversight hearing that a congressional committee typically aims to hold prior to considering legislation on a particular topic.