Policy (Page 2)

On Monday, November 15, President Biden signed into law a sweeping bipartisan infrastructure package, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), paving the way for historic investments in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, Great Lakes restoration, and core clean water priorities. This historic legislation is a big step forward in addressing the water infrastructure crisis threatening our communities and accelerating the restoration of the Great Lakes. But what are these investments and how can they help communities most impacted by pollution? 

What can this mean for the region?  

The new law has the potential to be transformative for the 8-state Great Lakes region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York) and the nation, potentially investing over $1.2 trillion in a broad range of infrastructure priorities from roads and bridges to broadband and water infrastructure. Some of the key topline investments with the potential to aid our states and communities in making progress on clean water and environmental restoration priorities include: 

• $1 billion in supplemental funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) over 5 years 
• $50 billion in clean water and drinking water infrastructure through key Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs, including: 
  • $11.7 billion for both the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF & DWSRF) programs 
  • $15 billion for lead service line replacement through the Drinking Water SRF program 
  • $10 billion to address emerging contaminants through the Small and Disadvantaged Communities program, the Drinking Water SRF, and the Clean Water SRF 
• Billions in potential additional funding for existing and new water infrastructure programs over the next 5 years with up to: 
  • $22.8 billion for the Clean Water SRF 
  • $20 billion for the Drinking Water SRF 
  • $1.4 billion for EPA’s Sec. 221 Sewer Overflow grant program 
  • $700 million for EPA’s Reducing Lead in Drinking Water and Lead in Schools programs 
  • $250 million for a new EPA Individual Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System grant program 

Why is this important and how does this help my community? 

Our communities have been grappling with crumbling and unsafe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for decades. At minimum, it is estimated that the Great Lakes region needs a staggering $188 billion over the next 20 years to improve, upgrade, and repair systems, showcasing the need for a transformational federal commitment in this critical infrastructure. This work has also become increasingly unaffordable for communities and residents, as the federal contribution to water infrastructure declined precipitously over the last four decades, falling from 63 percent of water infrastructure spending in the 1970s to 9 percent today. This new package will nearly double traditional federal contributions to the SRF program over the next 5 years with a further $25 billion in targeted investments to address lead service line replacement and emerging contaminants. 

How do these funds help the communities most in need? 

Despite this significant investment, far too often the costs of repairing and replacing critical water infrastructure are being passed on to those who can least afford it. A lack of investment that has disproportionately impacted communities that have historically borne the brunt of pollution and now are faced with water utility bills that have doubled or tripled over the last decade. How does this increased investment begin to address some of the existing financial barriers to entry for investing in the most underserved communities?

Despite this significant investment, far too often the costs of repairing and replacing critical water infrastructure are being passed on to those who can least afford it. A lack of investment that has disproportionately impacted communities that have historically borne the brunt of pollution and now are faced with water utility bills that have doubled or tripled over the last decade.3 How does this increased investment begin to address some of the existing financial barriers to entry for investing in the most underserved communities?  

This legislation will require that half of the funds provided for the SRF program be used to provide 100% principal forgiveness or be distributed as grants, a significant increase over the previously capped level of permitted subsidy in the program. Moreover, the $25 billion in targeted funds for lead service line replacement and emerging contaminants is mandated to be fully distributed as loans with 100% principal forgiveness or as grants. This subsidization can dramatically reduce the cost burden of repairing or replacing failing infrastructure for many of communities in the region. 

It is important, though, to be clear that this is only a start. Much of the challenge of equitable implementation will fall on the state, which will receive most of these funds to distribute through existing systems. These systems are often a challenge for many small or low-income communities and utilities to navigate. Moving forward, it is essential to continue to engage the federal-state-local partnership to enhance public engagement, invest in technical assistance, and make sure our most vulnerable communities are centered in this implementation process.

How much money will flow to my state? 

With billions expected to flow through new and existing programs, federal and state agencies are rushing to prepare to administer these investments over the next 5 years. For state administered SRF programs, this could mean preparing for millions in additional funding, which can have significant impacts for communities. 

While we don’t have exact figures, projecting out funding for non-targeted SRF funds consistent with previous year allocations, we can theorize that the Great Lakes states could see the following increases in the federal contribution to their respective CWSRF and DWSRF programs. The “Minimum IIJA Investment as Enacted” reflects what is expected to flow to each state from the funds directly provided by the bill upon signing, but the “Maximum IIJA Investment” reflects the potential maximum if Congress supports the amounts authorized to be appropriated in addition to the initial funding in future years: 

(All figures are approximate and do not include state match or other contributions) 

What’s next? 

This historic victory is a leap forward in investing in the communities of the region and in the Great Lakes, themselves, but it is only the first step in the process. More work is needed to empower communities to invest these funds where they are most needed and ensure that all have access to safe, clean water. 

Moreover, in Congress the job is not done. The passage of the IIJA begins to address our regional water infrastructure crisis. But these issues cannot be addressed in the long–term without acting on the climate crisis. Climate change threatens communities as more intense storms lead to more flooding, overwhelming sewer systems, contaminating drinking water sources, and pushing current infrastructure past its limits. The good news is that there is an immediate opportunity to build on the passage of the IIJA by taking long-overdue action on climate change through the Build Back Better Act. In the coming days and weeks, we will see the House and the Senate continue consideration of this package, which could result in over $550 billion in climate investments to help the nation transition to a more sustainable future while helping communities adapt and become more resilient to the impacts of a warming climate. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition urges our Great Lakes delegation to work together to quickly reach a final agreement as the failure to address climate change will only make existing problems worse and limit the long-term impact of this historic infrastructure victory. 

The post What Does the Infrastructure Act Mean for the Great Lakes Region? appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/what-does-the-infrastructure-act-mean-for-the-great-lakes-region/

Lindsey Bacigal

CONTACT:
Jordan Lubetkin, LubetkinJ@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113

Coalition: ‘We hope that today’s vote to bolster our nation’s water infrastructure provides momentum for taking action on climate change.’

Ann Arbor, Mich. (November 6, 2021)—The U.S. House passed a bipartisan infrastructure package last night in a 228 to 206 vote that boosts federal investment in core Great Lakes and clean water programs, including significant investments in water infrastructure and $1 billion in additional funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed the U.S. Senate in August by a 69-30 bipartisan vote. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition encouraged federal lawmakers to use its passage as momentum to act on climate change.

“The bipartisan infrastructure bill is a victory for the Great Lakes and the millions of people who depend on them for their drinking water, health, jobs, and quality of life,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “This bill is a big step forward in addressing the water infrastructure crisis threatening our communities. We’ve seen the positive impact that federal investments in the Great Lakes and clean water have had on the region. These infrastructure investments will allow for this important work to continue and provide much-needed help to the communities that have been most impacted by pollution. We thank members of Congress for supporting this vital bill and urge President Biden to sign it into law.”

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act now heads to President Joe Biden. Once signed into law, the bill will invest $1.2 trillion for infrastructure work, including authorizing $35 billion in water infrastructure investments over five years, supplemented by over $62 billion in additional appropriations to augment critical infrastructure programs and address public health threats.

The investments in the bill will help address the water infrastructure crisis in the region and across the country. The Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, according to the EPA, need more than $188 billion over 20 years to update their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. (This chart contains the water infrastructure needs of each state.)

This Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will address:

• aging and crumbling drinking water and wastewater infrastructure (with over $70 billion in federal investments);
• replacement of harmful lead service lines ($15 billion); and,
• action on emerging contaminants like toxic PFAS ($10 billion).

The act also advances ecosystem restoration efforts, improving the resilience of our communities and protecting our waters through:

• $1 billion in supplemental funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to restore habitat, clean up toxic pollution, reduce runoff pollution, and manage invasive species; and,
• $1.9 billion in supplemental funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aquatic restoration projects, some of which can potentially fund projects to protect and restore Great Lakes coastal habitats and fisheries.

This funding is a significant step forward in protecting communities throughout the Great Lakes region, and the bill contains many priorities of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

The Coalition is also urging Congress to use the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as a catalyst to take significant action to address the climate crisis and to boost investments that help communities prepare for, and respond to, impacts due to climate change – so-called climate resilience –as currently being considered under the Build Back Better framework.

The extreme weather, more frequent and severe flooding, and erosion being driven by climate change is straining the region’s and nation’s inadequate water infrastructure, harming communities, hurting the economy, and jeopardizing the health of people.

“Confronting the climate crisis goes hand in hand with protecting and restoring the Great Lakes,” said Rubin. “We hope that today’s vote to bolster our nation’s water infrastructure provides momentum for taking action on climate change. We urge Congress to quickly reach agreement on legislation that confronts the climate crisis and provide the tools and resources communities so desperately need to protect themselves from the devastating economic, environmental and public health impacts of climate change. We have solutions, and it is time to use them before the problems get worse and more costly.”

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post Coalition Applauds Passage of House Bill with Billions for Water Infrastructure, $1B for Great Lakes Restoration appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-applauds-passage-of-house-bill-with-billions-for-water-infrastructure-1b-for-great-lakes-restoration/

Lindsey Bacigal

U.S. Senate Funding Bills Boost Clean Water, Great Lakes Investments
Federal interior and environment bill contains $350 million for Great Lakes restoration, $3.3 billion for water infrastructure.

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (October 19, 2021)—The U.S. Senate released its nine remaining funding bills yesterday that boost federal investments to restore the Great Lakes, remove toxic lead from drinking water, confront sewage overflows, and reduce farm and city runoff pollution. The interior and environment spending bill contains $350 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and more than $3.3 billion to upgrade drinking water and sewage infrastructure. The boost in clean water priorities is more than was allocated in last year’s federal budget, although less than bills backed by the U.S. House.

“We are glad to see the U.S. Senate boost funding for essential clean water programs that people depend on for their drinking water, health, and quality of life,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Federal investments are producing results in local communities, although we know serious threats remain. We encourage House and Senate leaders, as well as the Biden Administration, to use all of the tools at their disposal to fully fund restoration efforts and to ensure every person in this country has access to clean, safe, and affordable water. This includes robust federal investments to protect the health of people and communities, as well as policy solutions that prevent pollution and further harm. Further, as climate change continues to exacerbate many threats – from sewage overflows to toxic algal blooms to flooding in neighborhoods – we encourage elected officials to act with urgency, purpose, and ambition so that we meet this moment with solutions that are commensurate to the threats at hand. Delay will make the problems worse and more expensive to solve.”

The release of the Senate funding bills comes as members of Congress discuss the fate of a $1 trillion infrastructure investment package and additional legislation to fund federal safety net and climate change programs. The Senate bills released yesterday will fund the U.S. government for fiscal year 2022, which goes from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022. The next step of the process is for House and Senate negotiators to reach consensus on a final federal budget before a temporary budget deal expires in December.

The Senate proposal to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $350 million is $10 million above the Biden Administration’s budget request, but $25 million below the authorized levels of the program supported by the House. The Senate spending bill includes the following key programs:

• Great Lakes Protection and Restoration
  • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: $350 million – a $20 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
  • Invasive Carp funding: $36 million across U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey programs – a $0.4 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
• Water Infrastructure
  • Over $3.3 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure programs.
    • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1.69 billion – a $50 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
    • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $1.18 billion – a $50 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
    • An additional $439 million for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure grants is provided for Congressionally Directed Spending.
  • Sewer Overflow Grants: $56 million – a $16 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: $72 million – a $50.5 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
• Clean Water Protection
  • Clean water state grants: $235 million – a $5 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
  • Nonpoint pollution grants: $180 million – a $3 million increase over fiscal year 2021.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post U.S. Senate Funding Bills Boost Clean Water, Great Lakes Investments appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/u-s-senate-funding-bills-boost-clean-water-great-lakes-investments/

Lindsey Bacigal