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Advocacy in Action — 116th Congress

The WateReuse Association advocates for policies and funding to support water reuse every day. “Advocacy in Action” is a central repository for our advocacy action items and resources, including letters to Congress, policy analyses, fact sheets, and more. This tool allows members to track our advocacy and serves as a resource for members when communicating with their specific congressional delegations.

Resources

  • Committee Roster – The chairs and ranking members of the congressional committees and subcommittee most relevant to water policy.
  • Funding a Policy Priorities – Joint water sector legislative policy priorities, which will be communicated to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
  • Title XVI GAO Report – A Government Accountability Office analysis found that the Bureau of Reclamation awarded about $715 million in water reuse grants for 46 construction projects and 71 studies under the Title XVI grant program from 1992-2017. (January 15, 2019)
  • National Advocacy Opportunities Webcast – Top Washington water sector lobbyists discuss the status of key legislation and explain the opportunities to advance a water reuse policy agenda. (January 16, 2019)

COVID-19/Coronavirus Pandemic

Advocacy

  • Joint water sector letter to House and Senate leadership urging funding to utilities to cover costs associated with coronavirus pandemic, as well as increased funding for water infrastructure programs (March 23, 2020)
  • Joint water sector letter to House and Senate leadership urging capital assistance and pandemic risk insurance for associations and non-profits (March 23, 2020)
  • Support letter to House and Senate leadership urging that any Coronavirus stimulus package include investment in Title XVI investment (March 19, 2020)

Resources

EPA’s National Water Reuse Action Plan

Water Infrastructure Financing

  • Conference recommendations to Congress ahead of negotiations on a final water infrastructure package, formerly known as the Water Resources Development Act. (August 7, 2020)
  • Joint water sector letter to the House Rules Committee in support of amendment to FY 2021 legislation that clarifies that pending WIFIA Program applicants should not be required to restart the application process. (July 22, 2020)
  • Joint water sector letter opposing the House Appropriations Committee’s approach to funding the WIFIA program in the FY 2021 budget (July 9, 2020)
  • Joint water sector letter in support of removing the volume cap on private activity bonds (PABs) contained in H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. (June 24, 2020)
  • Joint water sector letter to House leadership urging federal investments in smart water technologies as part of future economic stimulus legislation. (June 18, 2020)
  • Joint water sector letter urging Congress to address the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on water systems in the next relief package. (May 14, 2020)
  • Comment letter to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee supporting policy changes and investments in water recycling included in draft water infrastructure bills. (April 27, 2020)
  • Written Testimony on FY 2021 Funding to Senate Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Activities (March 19, 2021)
  • Comment letter to Congress in support of using the Title XVI-WINN Water Reclamation and Reuse Program as vehicle for stimulating economic activity.
  • Written Testimony on FY 2021 Funding to Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee (March 11, 2021)
  • Written Testimony on FY 2021 Funding to to House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee (March 11, 2021)
  • Written Testimony to the House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Regarding FY 2021 Funding (March 5, 2020)
  • Joint water sector letter in support of Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA)–H2O Act (H.R. 6113) (March 5, 2020)
  • WateReuse Arizona letter to Representative Kirkpatrick urging robust funding for Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Grant Program. (February 28, 2020)
  • WateReuse California letter to Senator Feinstein and Representative Calvert urging robust funding for Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Grant Program. (February 21, 2020)
  • WateReuse statement for the record in support of tax incentives for water recycling. (February 12, 2020)
  • Support letter to Rep. Jared Huffman for the Furthering Underutilized Technologies and Unleashing Responsible Expenditures for Drought Resiliency Act (FUTURE Drought Resiliency Act). (January 30, 2020)
  • Approriations letter to Senator Joe Manchin III urging for support on the S. 1932 the Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Infrastructure Act. (November 8, 2019)
  • Joint water sector letter to the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittees of the House and Senate requesting robust funding in FY 2020 for key programs that fund water recycling projects (October 24, 2019)
  • Joint water sector letter to the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittees of the House and Senate requesting robust funding in FY 2020 for key programs that fund water recycling projects (October 24, 2019)
  • Joint water sector letter expressing support for the Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Infrastructure Act (June 18, 2019)
  • Written Testimony to the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee urging $100 million for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Program for FY 2020 (April 24, 2019)
  • Written Testimony to the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee urging $100 million for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Program for FY 2020 (April 12, 2019)
  • Appropriations letter from WateReuse Pacific Northwest to Senator Jeff Merkley urging $100 million for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Program. (April 5, 2019)
  • Appropriations letter from WateReuse Pacific Northwest to Senator Patty Murray urging $100 million for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Program. (April 5, 2019)
  • Appropriations letter from WateReuse Pacific Northwest to Rep. Derek Kilmer urging $100 million for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Program. (April 5, 2019)
  • Water sector letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Energy and Water Subcommittees urging $100 million for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI-WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Program. (April 2, 2019)
  • Water sector letter delivered to the leaders of the House and Senate Interior-Environment Subcommittees urging robust funding for EPA water programs, such as the Clean and Drinking Water SRF programs and the WIFIA program
  • Appropriations letter to the House urging robust funding of key water reuse infrastructure financing programs in FY20. (March 15, 2019)
  • Appropriations letter to the Senate urging robust funding of key water reuse infrastructure financing programs in FY20. (March 15, 2019)
  • Water Sector Letter urging Congress to include water infrastructure in any infrastructure package. (January 10, 2019)

America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018

  • Comment Letter to the Army Corps of Engineers on development of implementation guidance for Section 1164 of America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. (February 12, 2018)

Water Research

To tackle the nation’s greatest challenges with water quality and supply, Congress established the National Priorities Water Research Grant Program.

  • Joint water sector letter to congressional appropriators urging $20 million to support the EPA’s National Priorities Water Research program and $10 million for the Innovative Water Technologies grant program for FY 2020. (March 14, 2019)

Other (Multi-issue letters, Analyses, Statements, etc.)

  • Comment letter to U.S. EPA regarding Preliminary Regulatory Determinations for PFOS and PFOA. (June 10, 2020)
  • Joint water sector comments regarding regulation of PFOS, PFOA and other PFAS in drinking water. (June 3, 2020)
  • Written testimony to the Water Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for the record in support of water recycling and innovation.
  • WateReuse Policy Principles on Federal Legislative and Regulatory Action Related to Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) (October 2019)
  • Joint Water Sector Letter in support of S. 2636, the Clean Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act of 2019 (October 17, 2019)
  • Comment Letter to EPA proposing specific actions the agency can take to advance the safe reuse of produced water (July 1, 2019)
  • Comment Letter to EPA supporting Interpretive Statement on Application of the Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program to Releases of Pollutants from a Point Source to Groundwater (June 7, 2019)
  • Joint Water Sector Letter supporting S.1251, the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act,
  • Comment Letter to EPA and ACoE urging revisions to exemptions for water recycling structures in the proposed rule revising the definition of “Waters of the United States.” (April 15, 2019)
  • Joint water sector letter urging legislation to modernize National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit terms under the Clean Water Act.

Water Week 2019 Congressional Briefing

On Wednesday, April 3, the WateReuse Association hosted a congressional briefing on the value of federal investment in water reuse, featuring panelists Gilbert Trejo of El Paso Water, Martha Tremblay of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, and Alan Weland of Suez. WateReuse President Paul Jones, General Manager of the Eastern Municipal Water District, moderated the briefing before a packed audience of congressional staffers and others at the US Capitol. 

115th Congress

Water Infrastructure Financing

Title XVI Water Recycling Program

Title XVI is the only federal program that provides funding specifically for water reuse projects in 17 western states and Hawaii.

  • Stakeholder Letter urging support for the reauthorization of the competitive grant program authorized in the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. (October 29, 2018)
  • Title XVI Water Recycling Program WRA comments to the Bureau of Reclamation on the updated Title XVI evaluation criteria. (April 12, 2018)
  • Appropriations letter for FY19 Title XVI funding signed by 42 stakeholders requesting $60 million for the program in FY19. (March 16, 2018)
  • Letter of support for the Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act that would increase authorization of Title XVI to $500 million. (February 23, 2018)
  • Letter for the record for the House Natural Resources Committee’s November 30 hearing on H.R. 4419.  (December 8, 2017)

Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA)

WIFIA provides low-interest loans for water, wastewater, stormwater and water reuse projects.

  • Joint comment letter to USEPA on proposed fees and other program features for the WIFIA program, (February 17, 2017)

State Revolving Funds (SRF)

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund provides low-interest loans for wastewater facilities, stormwater management projects, and other water quality projects including all forms of water reuse. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund provides loans to improve drinking water treatment and other water infrastructure projects to protect public health including water reuse.

  • Letter of support to House leaders for the reauthorization of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. (May 3, 2017)

Tax Reform

  •  Coalition letter of support to Congress opposing the elimination of private activity bonds and advance refunding bonds in the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. (December 6, 2017)
  • Joint water sector letters to the House and Senate opposing a provision in the House tax reform bill that would repeal the ability to advance refund municipal bonds, and urging against the inclusion of a similar provision in the Senate’s tax reform bill. (November 8, 2017)
  • Letter of support to Congress for comprehensive tax reform that creates a financial incentive to invest in water reuse infrastructure. (July 17, 2017)

Other (Multi-issue letters, Analyses, Statements, etc.)

  • Joint letter with the Family Farm Alliance urging support for a reauthorization package for several western water investment programs including Title XVI, water storage, desalination, and WIFIA (November 13, 2018)
  • Comment Letter from water sector groups urging EPA to conduct rulemaking on Clean Water Act Coverage of “Discharges of Pollutants” via a Direct Hydrologic Connection to Surface Water. (May 21, 2018)
  • Joint water sector appropriations letter urging strong support for federal water programs in FY19. (March 20, 2018)
  • Appropriations letter to Congress urging for robust funding of key water reuse infrastructure financing programs in FY19. (March 15, 2018)
  • Letters of support for both the Senate and House versions of the SRF WIN Act (S. 2364, H.R. 4902). (February 1, 2018)
  • Appropriations letter from the water sector groups to Congress outlining FY18 funding priorities for water infrastructure programs (November 20, 2017)
  • Budget letter to the Office of Management and Budget requesting robust funding for critical federal programs that support water reuse projects for FY 2019. (November 14, 2017)
  • Written statement for the record to the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment for a September 26, 2017 hearing. The statement makes policy recommendations and outlines the critical role that water recycling plays in communities across the nation.

Water Research

To tackle the nation’s greatest challenges with water quality and supply, Congress established the National Priorities Water Research Grant Program.

  • Joint Water Sector Letter urging Congress to pass legislation that funds the National Priorities Water Research grant program at $4.1 million (November 13, 2018)
  • Joint Water Sector Letter urging Congress to increase funding for the National Priorities Water Research grant program to $20 million for Fiscal Year 2019. (February 23, 2018)

WaterSense Program

WaterSense is a program that identifies, labels and promotes products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes and services that use water efficiently.

Water Resources Development Act

  • Letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offering support for partnership on water reuse provisions in America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018.
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee proposed WRDA legislative package and section-by-section of manager’s amendment (May 18, 2018)
  • Coalition letter of support for proposed WRDA language to the Senate committee leadership (May 17, 2018).
  • Letter to House committee leadership from Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and John Duncan (R-TN) championing proposed WRDA language. (May 11, 2018)
  • Coalition letters of support for proposed WRDA language to the House and Senate. (April 6, 2018)
  • Proposal document for an integrated water resources management provision in the 2018 WRDA bill. (March 2018)

Infrastructure Initiative

Water Week 2018

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