NACWA Commends Trust Study Request
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) applauded leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and a member of the House Ways and Means Committee for moving forward on a request for the Government Accountability Office to study potential revenue sources for a clean water trust fund.
As the letter signed by Reps. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), and Earl Blumenauer, points out, a dedicated funding source for wastewater infrastructure is critical to ensuring communities can continue to fulfill their obligations to provide clean and safe water for generations to come.
"Local communities already pay more than 95 percent of the cost of meeting their obligations under the Clean Water Act. Without a strong federal recommitment to clean water in the form of a trust fund, communities risk losing the gains they have made over the past 35 years to clean up the nation's waters," said Ken Kirk, NACWA executive director. "This study will help set the stage for moving toward a long-term, sustainable funding source to ensure communities can continue to provide the clean and safe water expected by their customers."
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), a major source of infrastructure funding, has been cut to half its historic level of $1.35 billion, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has suggested that funding for this valuable program should be phased out by 2011.
NACWA will continue to work with committee members to ensure vital federal funding for critical water and wastewater infrastructure continues long into the future.