AGC sponsored and participated in a briefing on Capitol Hill in an effort to educate staffers on the Clean Water Trust Fund (H.R. 3202). A Clean Water Trust Fund will protect vital sources of drinking water and fragile watersheds, including the nation's great water bodies, enhancing the health and security of citizens nationwide. EPA's most recent needs surveys estimates nationwide needs for drinking water and wastewater improvements at over $600 billion. With a rate of 28,500 jobs per billion spent, projects across the country would spur economic growth, create jobs and improve the environment and public health.

In a packed room of over 100 staffers, Shirley Franklin, former mayor of Atlanta that was also feature in Liquid Assets, explained the challenges faced by big cities that need to service large numbers of people with outdated and aging water systems. The audience also heard about the challenges faced by small towns forced to shoulder the debt burden from the mayor of Buhl, Idaho, Tom McCauley. They heard about the state of the construction and equipment industries from AGC and United Rentals and the environmental benefits from the National Wildlife Foundation. Finally, staffers heard an impassioned appeal for water and wastewater infrastructure from the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority.

AGC has been on the forefront of advocating for a Clean Water Trust Fund that would be deficit-neutral, financed by user fees, and help counteract the steady decline in federal investment in water and wastewater infrastructure. AGC will continue to garner support in the House for this important legislation.

For more information, contact Scott Berry at (703) 837-5368 or berrys@agc.org.

AGC has compiled a new resource for all things Buy American on its website. The new page describes the differences between "Buy American," "Buy America," and the Recovery Act Buy American provisions.

The page also catalogues AGC's standing policy of opposition to expansion of the Buy American Act, a description of the Recovery Act rules and regulations governing the Recovery Act Buy American provisions (both for direct-federal and federal-aid work), AGC's analysis of several key provisions of the rules and regulations, and a catalogue of waivers guidance from agencies that have construction portfolios. This valuable new comprehensive resource is located at www.agc.org/buyamerican and will be updated on an ongoing basis as new information is released from the agencies.

For more information, contact Scott Berry at (703)837-5368 or berrys@agc.org.

The AGC-sponsored Common Ground Alliance (CGA) testified before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the subject of Pipeline Safety Awareness and Education.

The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 required each owner or operator of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility to carry out a program to educate the public on the possible hazards associated with unintended releases from the pipeline facility, the physical indications that such a release may have occurred, what steps should be taken for public safety in the event of a pipeline release, and how to report such an event. The program also had to educate the public on the use of a one-call notification system prior to excavation and other damage prevention activities.

CGA president Robert Kipp described CGA's public awareness and education programs, most notably the 811 nationwide call before you dig telephone number.  AGC continues to work with its stakeholder partners within the CGA to create the industry gold standard for damage prevention.

For more information, contact Scott Berry at (703) 837-5368 or berrys@agc.org.

This week, EPA released its cumulative annual report for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund, which details many of the programs successes since its inception. According to the report, since the first project received financing in 1988, the program has provided over $74 billion in assistance for eligible wastewater infrastructure, nonpoint source and estuary projects. By the end of FY09, states had entered into almost 24,700 assistance agreements.

The report goes on to describe FY09, where over $5.2 billion in assistance was delivered through 1,971 assistance agreements. Two-thirds of the agreements were with communities with populations below 3,500. Over 1,300 nonpoint source loans were funded with $167.5 million.

For every dollar provided by the federal government to the fund, states contribute 20 cents. Together, federal and state governments have capitalized the fund with $32.4 billion, with an additional $4 billion appropriated by Congress through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Over the past 22 years, the 51 programs have been able to turn the $32.4 billion of federal and state capitalization into $73.6 billion in assistance for communities (not including ARRA). Responsible fiscal management and the revolving nature of the program have resulted in a remarkable return on federal investment. As of FY 09, for every federal dollar invested, $2.53 has been disbursed to eligible wastewater and nonpoint source projects across the country.

AGC is working diligently to move the reauthorization of this highly successful program through Congress and will continue to fight for its capitalization.

For more information, contact Scott Berry at (703) 837-5368 or berrys@agc.org.