Democratic Infrastructure Proposal is a Good First Step for Water

The House Democrats unveiled a new infrastructure package that calls for $760 billion in total spending over five years.

The package includes authorization of funding of about $14.5 billion a year for water and sewer systems nationally, including $8 billion a year for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and $4.58 billion a year for a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and other drinking water programs. It also includes much-needed new grant funding for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

In response, Food & Water Action Public Water for All Campaign Director Mary Grant said,

“The new infrastructure proposal from House Democrats is a welcomed first step to improve America’s aging water and wastewater systems. By dramatically increasing authorized federal water funding, reinstating Obama-era Build America Bonds and restoring advanced refunding of municipal bonds, this proposal will help localities make critical improvements. The next step for Congress is to dedicate a progressive revenue stream to ensure safe water for all. How you pay for projects matters and we need a progressive source of funding for our public systems like the federal investment outlined in the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity and Reliability (WATER) Act.”