Skip to main content

AMWA joined with six other associations on November 10 to write to Congress in support of strong funding for water and wastewater infrastructure programs as lawmakers make plans to finalize FY16 appropriations legislation.

The letter sent to Capitol Hill follows a bipartisan budget deal that was signed into law on November 2.  The deal raised the federal debt limit and established a spending blueprint for the next two fiscal years, but it still requires lawmakers to finalize the details of the government’s fiscal year 2016 funding plan by December 11.

Under the terms of the budget agreement, there will be an additional $25 billion available for discretionary non-defense spending authority in 2016, plus another $15 billion in FY17.  Some of this budget authority could be used to supplement EPA’s budget over the next two fiscal years, and lawmakers are currently working to determine funding levels for various federal departments and agencies for the 2016 fiscal year (see related story for more information on the budget agreement).

In the letter, AMWA and the other water sector associations urged Congress to fund the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) at $1.186 billion in 2016, equal to President Obama’s request for the program.  The letter also requested $1.145 billion for the Clean Water SRF (equal to its FY15 funding level), and $25 million to provide full authorized funding for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) pilot program.