NUCA’s governmental affairs team is happy to report to the NUCA membership that their e-mails and calls to the U.S. Senate – plus a lot of hard work, long hours, and lobbying by NUCA staff – gained an extraordinary victory this afternoon for the industry and America’s utility construction companies.
On an bipartisan 89-2 vote, the Senate passed the Drinking Water and Wastewater Act of 2021 (S. 914) and sends it to the U.S. House for their vote. S. 914 doubles the past federal investment in water and wastewater programs. If the House passed it as written, $35 billion would become available to the reauthorized Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds over the next five years.
NUCA members see our neglected community infrastructure first-hand everyday – we know better than anyone how dire the need is for this bill. This bipartisan bill is a long-overdue investment in our nation’s infrastructure that will create thousands of new jobs and help ensure millions of Americans have access to clean and healthy drinking water and safe, sanitary wastewater systems.
Your participation in the upcoming May 26th Washington Summit is needed more than ever. We must urge our U.S. Representatives to pass S. 914 or other infrastructure legislation that makes sure the $35 billion floor set by today’s Senate bill gets across the finish line.
This bill is a tremendous step in the right direction. If your Senator voted for this legislation, please let them know your appreciation for their support of their community’s water and wastewater infrastructure needs.
