Ranking Members Larsen, Napolitano Statements from Hearing on Financing Clean Water Infrastructure

Hearing

"Thank you, Chairman Rouzer and Ranking Member Napolitano for holding this hearing on clean water infrastructure financing, and thank you to the witnesses for joining us today.

In June, I joined Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox in my district in Bellingham, Washington, to announce over $278 million in funding for water infrastructure for American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages.

These historic investments were the largest ever made by EPA to Tribes through regular appropriations funding.

Clean water is a human right that historically underserved communities, including Tribal communities, have lacked access to for far too long.

Investments like these made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will improve lives, level the playing field, and create jobs.

In the BIL, on a bipartisan basis, Congress affirmed its commitment to water infrastructure with significant investments--$14.4 billion in federal dollars for upgrading wastewater systems, preventing pollution and supporting restoration programs in places like the Puget Sound and the Salish Sea.

These investments are critical, providing a lifeline to communities across the country struggling to maintain water quality. Members who voted for the BIL voted for clean water.

House Democrats consistently support investments in water infrastructure to protect public health and the work EPA and other agencies do in support of this clean water mission.

In contrast, the House Republican Interior Appropriations bill proposes a two-thirds reduction in funding for the Clean Water SRF--a cut of over $1 billion.

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund, or Clean Water SRF, has been the linchpin of efforts to protect and improve water quality for over three decades.

I suspect that's why, despite their differences, all the witnesses appearing before us today agree on the importance of Clean Water SRF funding. In just the last two years, in the district I represent, the Clean Water SRF has been used to upgrade aging sewer and water equipment, improve nutrient removal capabilities, and protect local groundwater supply.

I have toured, far too many to count, wastewater facilities in my district--the things you get to do when you're a Member of Congress--and I can assure you that there is plenty more work that needs to be done.

From a $1.4 million SRF loan in Whatcom County to a $200,000 grant to the Lummi Tribe for engineering reviews, the Clean Water SRF is making a difference.

The Clean Water SRF, established in 1987, has been critical for countless communities striving to upgrade and maintain their water and wastewater infrastructure.

It has provided low-interest loans and grants to states and municipalities, allowing them to undertake vital projects that protect public health, preserve our natural resources, and stimulate economic growth.

Unfortunately, we have at times neglected to invest in our water infrastructure. Aging pipes, polluted waterways, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events have stretched our water and wastewater systems to the breaking point.

The most recent EPA report on wastewater infrastructure needs estimated we would need $271 billion over the next twenty years to continue to meet federal standards for water quality.

These challenges are not limited to one region; they affect communities from coast to coast and across the political spectrum.

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $11.7 billion in supplemental appropriations for the Clean Water SRF will be provided through 2026, on top of what should be continued regular appropriations.

These investments are a down payment on transforming our nation's wastewater infrastructure and their significance cannot be overstated.

This funding will enable communities large and small to embark on a new era of water infrastructure projects that will modernize our systems, improve water quality, and ensure the safety and health of our citizens.

The impact of this investment goes beyond the immediate benefits of improved water quality. It will also create jobs, stimulate local economies, and support American businesses.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law recognizes that investing in our water infrastructure is an investment in our future.

Thanks again to the Chairman and Ranking Member for holding this hearing, I look forward to the testimony."

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