Alert Archive

To:	Members & Affiliates, Legislative Policy Committee, Clean Water Funding Task Force
From:	National Office
Date:	November 20, 2008
Subject:	ENSURING STIMULUS PACKAGE FUNDING FOR KEY WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Reference:	LA 08-6

 

NACWA is ramping up its vital efforts to broaden support in Congress for inclusion of a strong wastewater infrastructure component in the second economic stimulus package that has dominated this week’s session of Congress.  The Association continues to update its list of ready-to-go projects, now totaling nearly $9 billion, and to utilize it to broaden support for increased wastewater project funding levels in meetings with key House and Senate staff.  This list has been essential in our efforts to make the case to Congress that public wastewater utilities have sufficient projects to warrant inclusion in stimulus legislation, and that these projects are ready-to-go and can create solid jobs in the near-term.  The list does not, however, guarantee that the projects on it will receive funding.

 

Timing of Stimulus Package Remains Unclear

With Senate Republicans already having blocked passage of one stimulus package in September and having given no indication that they would support the $100.3 billion economic recovery package that was proposed this week by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), it is looking more likely that this will be President-elect Obama’s top priority for action in 2009.  

Clearly, there is also much that will need to be worked out between the House and Senate approaches.  The Senate bill currently includes $1.75 billion in capitalization grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and mandates that states distribute the money by the end of fiscal year (FY) 2009.  The House stimulus bill (H.R. 7110) meanwhile, had $6.5 billion for the CWSRF.  NACWA has urged both Senate and House staff to increase this number to $10 billion in the form of grants.  The Association is concerned that this deference to states in prioritizing stimulus funding could result in the unintended consequence of rendering municipalities that made the legitimate decision to fund projects through the bond market or through other non-CWSRF sources ineligible for stimulus funding.

 

NACWA Works to Define “Ready-To-Go” Project Funding Eligibility – Recommends Members Apply for CWSRF Funds

NACWA sent a letter Nov. 13 to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and to key staff strongly recommending that stimulus funds not go solely to projects currently backlogged on the CWSRF’s Intended Use Plan (IUP) list.  Specifically, the Association is urging the inclusion of language in the

stimulus bill that makes eligible all ready-to-go projects as defined in the legislation, including those projects under consent decree, to help ensure that the best projects are ultimately undertaken, whether they have undergone the CWSRF application process or not.  In the meantime, it is recommended that agencies that have not currently applied for CWSRF funding, take steps to do so now in the event that the legislative language narrowly limits funding to projects on the CWSRF IUP list.

 

Next Steps for NACWA Member Participation

Please send any further information that you have regarding ready-to-go projects (agency, name and brief description of project, location, and cost) to Byron DeLuke at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 202/833-4655.  NACWA also encourages your use of the Association’s Write Congress Now feature on the NACWA homepage to send letters to your Representatives and Senators urging support for a stimulus package with a significant wastewater funding component.  Please also set up meetings during the Congressional recess, that begins tomorrow, with your members of your delegation.  NACWA will update its members as work on an economic stimulus moves forward.