The AGC co-chaired Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) Coalition continues to educate members of Congress in efforts to build support for H.R. 3202, "The Water Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2009." This legislation seeks to establish a dedicated trust fund to finance clean water, drinking water and related infrastructure, such as large capital construction projects, replacing water mains, building water treatment facilitates and rehabilitating sanitary and combined sewer systems.  H.R. 3202 authorizes a five-year, $50 billion dedicated trust fund, which will be allocated to states primarily through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs.

Since the bill's introduction in June 2009, AGC and the WIN Coalition has been essential in securing 34 co-sponsors for this legislation. AGC continues to reach out to individual Hill offices to educate Congressional Members and staff about the water infrastructure needs of the nation and benefits of establishing a deficit neutral, user fee-based system to provide funding for water infrastructure.

AGC member support is crucial to make progress on H.R. 3202. AGC members are encouraged to visit the AGC Legislative Action Center to write letters to their members of Congress urging their support.  Click here to visit the AGC Legislative Action Center and learn more.

For additional information please contact Perry L. Fowler at fowlerp@agc.org or (703)837-5321.

AGC and the WIN Coalition continue to work diligently to bolster efforts to reauthorize the EPA State Revolving Loan Fund programs.  Despite increased annual appropriations in FY10, and an unprecedented $6 billion investment through the Recovery Act, the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loans continue to operate without having been reauthorized in over 20 years, bringing uncertainty to these successful but undercapitalized programs.

A Senate bill authorizes $39.191 billion for EPA water infrastructure programs over the next five years, and includes $20 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program, $15 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program and $1.85 billion for Sewer Overflow Grants.  AGC and WIN continue to work with key industry and congressional stakeholders to move this legislation forward, but EPA's implementation of Davis-Bacon requirements that were included in FY10 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill is complicating efforts to move the bill forward.  A group of senators and the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities (CIFA) have both asked the EPA to reconsider its application of prevailing wages in the FY10 program, which is viewed by many as a barrier to consideration of S. 1005 by the full Senate.

The House of Representatives has already approved H.R. 1262, "The Water Quality Investment Act of 2009," which authorizes $19.4 billion over five years for wastewater infrastructure projects, including $13.8 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) and $2.5 billion for the sewer overflow control grants program.  AGC and WIN are working to see this bipartisan legislation combined with S.1005 upon passage by the Senate.

AGC members are encouraged to contact their Senators and urge them to support the bill so that  states and communities will have the consistency of a multi-year authorization.  To learn more about this legislation and support AGC efforts, please visit the AGC Legislative Action Center.

For additional information please contact Perry L. Fowler at fowlerp@agc.org or (703)837-5321.

On April 27, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and cosponsors Kit Bond (R-Mo.), Mike Crapo (D-Idaho), and John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act (S. 3262). The legislation will remove state volume caps on private activity bonds for water and wastewater projects and lead to the investment of billions of dollars in private money flowing into our nation's water infrastructure. AGC and coalition partners are working to garner additional support for the Senate bill and include it in broader tax legislation. Based on water and financial industry estimates, the bill would facilitate at least $2 billion worth of private water investment in 2010 and up to $5 billion or more annually as the market matures.

S. 3262 is the Senate companion to H.R. 537, a bill authored by Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) that passed the House in March as part of the Small Business and Infrastructure Tax Act.  AGC, along with the National Association of Water Companies and American Water, led the coalition effort in seeking the introduction of the Senate bill. To learn more about this legislation, visit the AGC Legislative Action Center.

For additional information please contact Perry L. Fowler at fowlerp@agc.org or (703)837-5321.

CGA Platinum Sponsor Shell Pipeline LP, continued their support of the 811 message of safety by featuring the logo during one of the most-watched sporting events in the country. During the Talladega Race, the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet featured the "Call 811" logo on its deck lid and rocker panels to maximize exposure to fans at Talladega Superspeedway in support of National Safe Digging Month.

Kevin Harvick raced the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet to victory lane and celebrated his first win of the season. During the race, Harvick helped celebrate National Safe Digging month by sporting the "Call 811" logo to help educate fans about the importance of following the proper safety procedures when digging.

CGA is now also featured on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CGAConnect and Twitter at www.twitter.com/CGAConnect, with both networks serving as a place for CGA stakeholders to meet each other, share news stories and case studies, and learn about upcoming CGA initiatives and meetings.

AGC members interested in learning more about the Common Ground Alliance or getting involved in our underground damage prevention efforts should contact Perry L. Fowler at fowlerp@agc.org or (703)837-5321.