WEF Commends Introduction Of Water Quality Protection & Job Creation Act
Organization offers support for infrastructure funding legislation
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has submitted a letter of support to Congressmen Nick Rahall (D-WV), Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Tim Bishop (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources & the Environment, for the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2011, H.R. 3145 —a new bill that was introduced yesterday on Capitol Hill.
The new legislation proposes a Federal investment of $13.8B in wastewater infrastructure over five years through the renewal of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). This much needed funding would also help create thousands of new domestic jobs in the engineering, construction and clean water sectors while providing financial assistance for communities to address wet weather overflows and create incentives for innovation including green infrastructure, energy efficiency and watershed approaches.
"This legislation not only recognizes the need for federal investment to protect the gains we have made in water quality over the past four decades, " said WEF Executive Director Jeff Eger. "It also addresses the unique challenges of the twenty-first century by prioritizing innovative approaches to sustainable water management."
WEF is particularly pleased that the bill authorizes a new financing tool enabling loans and loan guarantees for large projects and in support of State CWSRF programs. The Federation and its water sector partners have worked hard over the past year to promote legislation to create a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Authority [WIFIA]—patterned after the successful Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act [TIFIA] program. WIFIA would dramatically leverage available Federal funds and serve as a complement to the CWSRF.
"We know this is just a first step and Congress has much on its plate," Eger continued, "but WEF is committed to working with Congress, and with our partners in the water sector, to build consensus around this long overdue legislation."
Click here to read the official press release from the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure.
About WEF
Formed in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF and its Member Associations proudly work to achieve our mission of preserving and enhancing the global water environment.
SOURCE: Water Environment Federation (WEF) - WEFTEC