Democrats in the House of Representatives have introduced an $825 billion stimulus package that includes more than $14 billion for water- and environment-related programs, along with $32 billion for the development of a smart power grid and more than $20 billion in tax incentives for renewable energy projects.
In the water and environment area, $6 billion would go to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), $2 billion to the Drinking Water SRF, $4.5 billion for Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, $500 million for Bureau of Reclamation drinking water projects, $224 million for the International Boundary and Water Commission’s water projects, $800 million for the federal Superfund program and $300 million for the federal underground storage tank cleanup and brownfields cleanup programs.
According to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the bill is just a first step in Congress’s development of a comprehensive economic stimulus package and is likely to go through several changes as the relevant House committees review it—to say nothing of the likely differences between the House’s final legislation and any forthcoming Senate package.
Pelosi said that a floor vote is expected the last week of January.
Source: Environmental Business Journal
