Create Drinking Water and Wastewater Trust Funds

Background:

• The nation has an estimated need between $400 and $600 billion over the next 20 years for clean drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure.  Recent polling shows that 86 percent of Americans support legislation by the U.S. Congress that would create a long-term, sustainable, and reliable trust fund for clean and safe water infrastructure.

AGC Message:

• $535 Billion Gap Between Current Spending and Projected Needs.  The nation has staggering needs for clean drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis found a $535 billion gap between current spending and projected needs for water and wastewater infrastructure (combined) over 20 years.
• Public and Private Studies Find a $400 - $600 Billion Gap in Funding.  Several public and private studies produced by AGC partner the Water Infrastructure Network, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and others have similar studies estimating the need between $400 and $600 billion over the same 20-year period.
• Restore Funding to the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds.  Congress has cut funding in recent years and should restore funding levels for the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds (SRFs) to a minimum of $1.35 billion and $850 million, respectively.  Even with these historical funding levels the SRFs are significantly under funded.
• Clean Water Trust Fund Would Supplement Infrastructure Needs.  AGC supports creation of a long-term, sustainable, off-budget source of funding for clean water by creating a trust fund to finance construction and maintenance of this critical environmental infrastructure.  There is significant public support for the creation of this trust fund for clean water. 
• Alternative Funding Study Needed.  H.R. 720 includes a study on alternative funding sources which would include how to provide dollars to support a Clean Water Trust Fund.

AGC Supported Legislation:

• H.R. 720 - Water Quality Financing Act of 2007
  01/30/2007 - Introduced
  03/09/2007 - Passed House 303 - 108 
  

AGC Letters:

• 03/07/2007 - AGC Urges the House to Vote “YES” on H.R. 720, Clean Water Funding

• 01/19/07 - The Need for Renewed Investment for Clean Water Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment (AGC Statement)