U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) on May 13 introduced legislation that would reauthorize certain water pollution control programs, improve the wastewater infrastructure permitting process, and provide flexibility to help states and local communities take on projects to improve water infrastructure.
“States and communities across the country face tight budgets and difficult choices with the amount of resources that are available to them, especially our rural and smaller communities. That’s why this bill is so important,” said Rep. Graves, ranking member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The Wastewater Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2021, H.R. 3218, which Rep. Graves introduced with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), would reauthorize the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program for the first time since 1994 at $14 billion over five years, according to a section-by-section bill summary provided by Rep. Graves’ office.
The bill also would authorize $1.12 billion in federal grants to states for planning, design and construction of sewer overflow and stormwater management projects for municipalities, and would reauthorize the Clean Water Act to permit the Environmental Protection Agency to provide almost $1.3 billion over five years in grants to states to assist them in implementing state water quality improvement programs.
Additionally, H.R. 3218 would authorize $110 million total in new grants for public wastewater utilities to assess and address future risks posed by manmade or natural disasters, among other provisions, according to the summary.
“The Wastewater Infrastructure Improvement Act provides for critical investments, reduces bureaucratic burdens at the local level, and gives communities more tools and flexibility to address their substantial wastewater infrastructure needs,” Rep. Graves said. “I look forward to working with the chair and members of the majority to reach bipartisan agreement on these important issues just as we did last Congress.”
The bill largely reflects a bipartisan agreement reached during the 116th Congress on similar legislation the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved, including agreed-upon authorization levels, according to Rep. Graves’ office.