House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduces bipartisan water infrastructure legislation

-
BlogOn March 16, members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee introducedHouse Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduces bipartisan water infrastructure legislationMarch 23, 2021March 23, 2021, 2:15 pm
-
Blog
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduces bipartisan water infrastructure legislation
On March 16, members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee introduced bipartisan legislation that would make significant investments to address America’s wastewater infrastructure and local water quality challenges. The Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021 would invest over $50 billion for the construction, repair and replacement of the nation’s network of wastewater and stormwater conveyance and treatment facilities from FY 2022 to FY 2026. The bill would increase the amount of federal funds made available to state and local governments through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program—the primary source of federal assistance for wastewater infrastructure construction—which Congress has not reauthorized since 1987.
The legislation represents the first infrastructure proposal introduced by the T&I Committee in the 117th Congress. The bipartisan bill was introduced by T&I Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), T&I Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Chair Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). During the previous Congress, House Democrats attempted to pass a comprehensive infrastructure package when they advanced H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, in July 2020 – though the legislation did not receive consideration in the Senate (find NACo’s analysis of H.R. 2 here). Find T&I’s section-by-section summary here.
Major Provisions
- $2.5 billion in grants over five years to states for implementing state water quality improvement programs
- $1 billion in grants over five years to local governments to carry out watershed, weather and resiliency projects
- $1 billion in grants over five years to eligible entities to carry out alternative water sources projects, such as wastewater or stormwater reuse, to augment the existing water supplies
- $2 billion in grants over five years for sewer overflow and stormwater reuse grants to intercept, transport, control, treat or reuse sewer overflows and stormwater
- $1 billion over five years to local governments to implement treatment standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants.
- $40 billion ($8 billion annually) in capitalization grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program
- $2.5 billion in grant assistance over five years s to address the backlog of critical wastewater infrastructure needs for Indian Tribes
As major owners, users and regulators of water resources and systems with the responsibility for funding 95 percent of all local public water infrastructure needs, counties and other local governments are directly impacted by the funding authorized under this legislation. Counties invest $134 billion annually in infrastructure construction and the maintenance and operation of public works, including public water systems and water infrastructure projects.
On March 16, members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee2021-03-23Blog2021-03-23
On March 16, members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee introduced bipartisan legislation that would make significant investments to address America’s wastewater infrastructure and local water quality challenges. The Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021 would invest over $50 billion for the construction, repair and replacement of the nation’s network of wastewater and stormwater conveyance and treatment facilities from FY 2022 to FY 2026. The bill would increase the amount of federal funds made available to state and local governments through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program—the primary source of federal assistance for wastewater infrastructure construction—which Congress has not reauthorized since 1987.
The legislation represents the first infrastructure proposal introduced by the T&I Committee in the 117th Congress. The bipartisan bill was introduced by T&I Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), T&I Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Chair Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). During the previous Congress, House Democrats attempted to pass a comprehensive infrastructure package when they advanced H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, in July 2020 – though the legislation did not receive consideration in the Senate (find NACo’s analysis of H.R. 2 here). Find T&I’s section-by-section summary here.
Major Provisions
- $2.5 billion in grants over five years to states for implementing state water quality improvement programs
- $1 billion in grants over five years to local governments to carry out watershed, weather and resiliency projects
- $1 billion in grants over five years to eligible entities to carry out alternative water sources projects, such as wastewater or stormwater reuse, to augment the existing water supplies
- $2 billion in grants over five years for sewer overflow and stormwater reuse grants to intercept, transport, control, treat or reuse sewer overflows and stormwater
- $1 billion over five years to local governments to implement treatment standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants.
- $40 billion ($8 billion annually) in capitalization grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program
- $2.5 billion in grant assistance over five years s to address the backlog of critical wastewater infrastructure needs for Indian Tribes
As major owners, users and regulators of water resources and systems with the responsibility for funding 95 percent of all local public water infrastructure needs, counties and other local governments are directly impacted by the funding authorized under this legislation. Counties invest $134 billion annually in infrastructure construction and the maintenance and operation of public works, including public water systems and water infrastructure projects.

-
Blog
Five Actions Counties Must take to Address Zoning Reform
One of the fastest emerging trends among community planners is zoning reform. This has been a topic that has been gathering momentum for the last 3-5 years, and there have been three primary federal funding vehicles that have been proposed to fund this initiative. -
Blog
2022 #NACoAnn Spotlight: The Natural and Built Environment
The NACo Annual Conference & Exposition is the largest meeting of county elected and appointed officials from across the country. -
Blog
USDOT announces availability of $2.36 billion in FY 2022 through new Bridge Investment Program
On June 10, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $2.36 billion in FY 2022 through the competitive Bridge Investment Program (BIP). -
Blog
Deadline approaching for DOD funding of county infrastructure and economic development projects
Counties near military installations can apply for two open grant opportunities available from the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC). -
Blog
White House OMB issues expanded Buy America guidance
On April 18, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued updated guidance on the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA). BABA requires that a substantial amount of materials used in federally supported infrastructure projects be wholly or mostly made in America.
-
Reports & Toolkits
State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Resource Hub
Explore NACo's resource hub for the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.Reports & Toolkitsdocument010512:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> -
Basic page
Transportation Steering Committee
Responsible for all matters pertaining to federal transportation legislation, funding and regulation and its impacts on county government. This includes highway and bridge development, finance and safety, public transit development and finance, transportation planning, airport development and service, passenger and freight railroads, ports and waterways, freight movement, and research and development of new modes of transportation.pagepagepage<p>Responsible for all matters pertaining to federal transportation legislation, funding and regulation and its impacts on county government.
-
Reports & Toolkits
Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
On November 15, 2021, President Biden enacted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), into law. This page and its contents are supplemental to NACo's comprehensive legislative analysis of the BIL for counties.Reports & Toolkitsdocument030310:00 amReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent jump">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Related Posts
-
BlogUSDOT releases $573 million in FY 2022 through new Railroad Crossing Elimination ProgramJul. 1, 2022
-
BlogFive Actions Counties Must take to Address Zoning ReformJun. 24, 2022
-
Blog2022 #NACoAnn Spotlight: The Natural and Built EnvironmentJun. 21, 2022
Related Resources
-
Reports & ToolkitsCounties and the American Rescue Plan Act Recovery Fund: Clean Water, Sewer & Stormwater InfrastructureMay. 24, 2022
-
VideoCounties testify on creating a more resilient nationMay. 17, 2022
-
Press ReleaseCounty City and State Organization Leaders Celebrate Historic Infrastructure Investments Heading to CommunitiesMay. 16, 2022