Bishop Applauds Agreement of Bipartisan Water Infrastructure and Jobs Bill

Press Release

Congressman Tim Bishop joined Democratic and Republican leaders on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today in announcing the Conference Report on the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which includes legislation authored by Bishop that would create American jobs through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and other efforts to improve water quality.

The Conference Report on WRRDA includes critical provisions from the "Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2013" (H.R. 1877) to renew the Federal commitment to addressing the Nation's substantial needs for wastewater infrastructure. Since this program was last authorized in 1987, the Clean Water SRF has been the traditional mechanism for Federal wastewater infrastructure assistance.

"Investments in rebuilding our nation's water and wastewater infrastructure will create thousands of jobs while benefiting the health of our communities, our economy, and our environment for decades to come," said Congressman Bishop. "Passing this bipartisan legislation will provide a significant boost to the struggling construction industry and lay the foundation for sustainable growth in our communities and our economy, especially for Long Island and other areas recovering from Superstorm Sandy."

Along with the SRF provision, the WRRDA Conference Report also includes a complimentary initiative also included in Bishop's legislation, for the long-term financing of wastewater infrastructure through the establishment of direct loan and loan guarantee programs through a new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). This new authority, modeled after a similar financing mechanism for surface transportation, would leverage billions of additional dollars to meet local wastewater infrastructure needs.

"For years, I have been expressing my concern that any new water infrastructure financing options not come at the expense of the highly-successful Clean Water SRF Program," said Congressman Bishop. "When I introduced the bipartisan Water Quality and Job Protection Act, I included safeguards to ensure the long-term sustainability of the SRF, while providing additional financial tools to communities in addressing their local water challenges. I am pleased that the final Conference Report on WRRDA includes similar safeguards."

Another provision of "The Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2013," that was successfully included in the WRRDA conference report would permanently codify the application of Davis-Bacon prevailing wages and Buy America provisions for the construction of wastewater treatment infrastructure funded under the Clean Water SRF or WIFIA authorities. A summary of the water-infrastructure provisions contained in WRRDA is attached.

"The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) appreciates the bipartisan agreement on WRRDA and its significant federal re-commitment to the clean water state revolving fund as a vital investment tool that helps municipalities invest in the systems that keep our waters clean and safe," said Ken Kirk, Executive Director of NACWA.

"The United Steelworkers (USW) would like to commend all of the conferees on the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) for their inclusion in the conference report of two key programs that will help American communities invest in the water infrastructure that this nation sorely needs," said Leo W. Gerard, USW International President. "The creation of the Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and the reauthorization of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) will allow communities the flexibility they need to construct, repair, and replace America's crucial water infrastructure, and the inclusion of Buy America preferences to both programs will ensure that this infrastructure will be made here in America by American workers, further multiplying the number of jobs which will be created by this effort. USW and its members are grateful to the conferees for their inclusion of these provisions in the conference report, and we urge their speedy passage by Congress so that we can all get to work rebuilding America."

Bishop's legislation (H.R. 1877) has been endorsed by a coalition of environmental and construction advocacy groups including: National Association of Clean Water Agencies, The Associated General Contractors of America, American Society of Civil Engineers, National Construction Alliance, American Public Works Association, and the Sierra Club. The House of Representatives is expected to consider the WRRDA Conference Report during the week of May 19th.

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