The American Public Works Assn. (APWA) joins 86 organizations—including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Assn. of Port Authorities and the American Society of Civil Engineers—in a letter to the Senate majority leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Senate minority leader, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), urging the Senate to consider and pass S. 2848, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, which would authorize nearly $10 billion over 10 years for water-related infrastructure projects, as well as drinking and clean water infrastructure.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed the current WRDA bill in April, 2016, showing a commitment to the nation’s critical water resources infrastructure by authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers projects and making improvements to ports, inland harbors, waterways, dams and flood control systems. The bill would also provide $220 million in direct emergency assistance for drinking water crises in communities, such as the Flint, Mich., water contamination.
“APWA joins this large group of 86 organizations in urging the full Senate to pass WRDA because the state of the nation’s water resources infrastructure is critical to our economy, public health, safety, preservation and enhancement of our environmental resources,” said APWA Executive Director, Scott D. Grayson. “Our members, representing over 29,000 public works professionals who are the stewards of public infrastructure, understand the importance of efficient, reliable, and cost-effective water infrastructure, and believe maintaining a 10 year cycle for the bill will help ensure project and program efficiency and continuity. Further, with the current flooding around the U.S., it is important to mitigate risk upfront to provide protection and reduce economic loss and disaster recovery costs."
The 86 organizations signing onto the letter include manufacturers, engineers, water organizations, and other affiliated water infrastructure-related organizations and companies, including the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Nature Conservancy, flood control agencies and local government groups. For more information about APWA Advocacy and Government Affairs, visit the website at http://www.apwa.net/be_involved/Advocacy-and-Government-Affairs.
Source: American Public Works Assn.
