Fall 2023 - Flipbook - Page 4
ASCE Government Relations Update
Natalie Mamerow, Senior Manager, Federal Government Relations, ASCE
Apply to Attend ASCE’s 2020 Legislative Fly-In!
Interested in walking the halls of Capitol Hill and learning firsthand how policy is crafted? Every spring, ASCE holds
its Legislative Fly-In in Washington, DC, an intensive two-day program that provides Key Contacts with an inside look
at the public policy process. In 2019, over 250 Key Contacts visited over 360 Congressional offices, advocating for
full funding of key infrastructure programs and ASCE’s Principals for Investment. This is a competitive program - apply
today! Deadline is November 21, 2019.
$6.6 Billion in Projects Apply for WIFIA Grants
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received 51 letters of interest for $6.6 billion for Water Infrastructure
Finance & Innovation Act (WIFIA) funding, exceeding the $6 billion the EPA is offering this round. WIFIA offers a
financing mechanism for large water infrastructure projects to leverage limited federal resources, stimulate
additional investment in our nation’s infrastructure, and encourage greater private sector participation in meeting
clean and drinking water needs. ASCE supports the WIFIA program to help raise wastewater and drinking water
infrastructure grades.
2018 DWSRF Report Highlights Investments
In July, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2018 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)
Report. The DWSRF program provides support in the form of low-interest loans for investments in state and local
drinking water infrastructure. Over the last 30 years, the DWSRF has provided more than $38.2 billion in loans
across the nation. ASCE, a long-time advocate of the DWSRF program, recommends tripling funding to raise our
nation’s “D” drinking water grade.
WaterSMART Funds $21 Million in Conservation Projects
The Bureau of Reclamation made two recent announcements related to the use of federal funds for water
conservation. Through the WaterSMART Program, they awarded five communities in CA, HI, and TX a total of
$16.98 million for improvements in water conservation, reuse, and recycling. WaterSMART also selected 63
projects to receive a total of $4.1 million for small-scale water efficiency grants. ASCE supports water conservation
and water reuse efficiency measures as essential elements of sound water resources management.
Committee Advances Resilience Revolving Loan Fund
The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee marked-up the Resilience Revolving Loan Fund Act, and ASCE
submitted a Statement for the Record in support of the bill. These loans would finance projects to minimize the risk
of earthquakes, floods, storm surge, and other events FEMA deems catastrophic. The bill now awaits a full House
vote. In a St. Louis Post-Dispatch op-ed published that week, ASCE Region 7 Director Marsia Geldert-Murphey, P.E.
stressed the importance of this piece of legislation. Join our Key Contact webinar on Thursday, November 7 at 2:00
pm ET to learn more about this bill from Natalie Martinez, Legislative Assistant to Representative Angie Craig (DMN).
www.asce.org/ewri • EWRI Currents • Volume 21, Number 4 • Fall 2019
