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Legislative Information
Since its founding in 1981, AMWA has been an effective advocate on behalf of metropolitan drinking water providers, playing a significant role in the development of public policy through its legislative affairs program. AMWA has cultivated productive relationships with members of the House and Senate and key congressional staff and has served as a credible source of information for policymakers who share its goal of enacting sensible measures to protect public health and the environment.
Below is a collection of letters that AMWA has recently sent to Capitol Hill, as well as related documents from members of Congress and the Administration. For more information visit AMWA’s Resolutions page.
Drinking Water Security Legislation
AMWA has been active in helping shape legislation that would update the federal security rules at drinking water and wastewater facilities.
AMWA Letter to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for hearing on "Protecting America's Water Treatment Facilities."
July 27, 2010
AMWA Letter on the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 2868
November 2, 2009
Water Sector Letter Requesting Consistent Drinking Water/Wastewater Security Legislation
October 26, 2009
Energy and Commerce Committee-Approved Version of H.R. 3258
October 21, 2009
Energy and Commerce Summary of H.R. 3258
October 21, 2009
AMWA Memorandum to Members on Status of H.R. 3258
October 20, 2009
Testimony of Brian Ramaley on H.R. 3258
October 1, 2009
H.R. 3258, the "Drinking Water System Security Act"
July 20, 2009
"Drinking Water System Security Act" July 8 Discussion Draft
July 8, 2009
Energy and Commerce Committee Summary of the July 8 Discussion Draft
July 8, 2009
Letter to Speaker Pelosi Requesting Consistent Drinking Water/Wastewater Security Rules
June 11, 2009
"Drinking Water System Security Act" May 20 Discussion Draft
May 20, 2009
AMWA Summary of the May 20 Discussion Draft
May 20, 2009
Below are AMWA's previous letters and statements on drinking water security legislation:
Chemical Security Hearing Testimony
June 12, 2008
Letter to House Homeland Security Committee on Proposed Chemical Security Legislation
January 23, 2008
Letter to Senator Biden on Gaseous Chlorine Legislation
April 10, 2007
Water Sector Letter on the "Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act"
July 6, 2006
Climate Change
In June, AMWA and a broad coalition of water and environmental groups wrote to all members of the U.S. Senate in support of a water system climate adaptation program.
Climate Adaptation Letter to the U.S. Senate
June 22, 2010
AMWA and other water and environmental groups wrote to Sen. Harry Reid in May to ask that he include a "Blue Bank for Water System Mitigation and Adaptation" in any comprehensive climate legislation that goes to the Senate floor.
Letter to Sen. Reid in Support of the Blue Bank
May 17, 2010
In October, AMWA joined with ten other water, wastewater, and stormwater associations to express support for the inclusion of the "Water System Mitigation and Adaptation Partnerships" program as Section 381 of S. 1733, the "Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act."
Water Sector Letter on Utility Partnerships Program
October 19, 2009
AMWA recently endorsed H.R. 3727, the "Drinking Water Adaptation, Technology, Education, and Research (WATER) Act, which would provide federal funding for a comprehensive research program to help drinking water systems adapt to the impacts of climate change.
AMWA WATER Act Letter to Rep. Diana DeGette
October 13, 2009
In September, Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) released S. 1733, their version of comprehensive climate change legislation. AMWA also circulated a summary of the bill's water-related provisions to its members.
Text of S. 1733 as Introduced
September 30, 2009
AMWA Summary of Water-Related Provisions of S. 1733
October 7, 2009
On July 9, AMWA wrote to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) asking that she include a drinking water utility adaptation program within the text of the climate change legislation she is writing.
AMWA Climate Change Adaptation Letter to Sen. Boxer
July 9, 2009
On June 26, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 2454, the "American Clean Energy and Security Act," or commonly referred to as the "cap-and-trade" climate change bill. Below is a Congressional Research Service summary of the legislation.
Congressional Research Service Summary of H.R. 2454
June 17, 2009
AMWA recently worked together with Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and other drinking water and wastewater organizations to develop and introduce H.R. 2969, the "Water System Adaptation Partnerships Act." The legislation would direct EPA to offer competitive grants to local drinking water and wastewater systems to help them fund projects to adapt to the impacts of global climate change.
Text of H.R. 2969 as Introduced
June 19, 2009
AMWA Letter in Support of H.R. 2969
June 19, 2009
Below are AMWA's previous letters and statements on global climate change legislation and policy:
In April 2008 AMWA wrote to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in support of his legislation (S. 2970, the "Climate Change Drinking Water Adaptation Research Act") that would expand federal support for research into the impacts of climate change on drinking water supplies and services. The text of this legislation was later incorporated into S. 3036.
Letter to Sen. Reid on S. 2970
April 30, 2008
In May of 2008, AMWA joined a coalition of seven other drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater associations to call on Congress to ensure that any comprehensive legislation addressing climate change takes into account the research and adaptation needs of water utilities and their customers. The following cover letter and statement was sent to all members of Congress.
Climate Change Cover Letter
May 20, 2008
Water Sector Statement on Climate Change and Water Resources
May 20, 2008
As the Senate prepared to begin debate of S. 3036, the "Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act," AMWA again wrote to senators to reiterate support for expanded research and adaptation provisions that will help drinking water utilities prepare for the challenges of climate change.
Letter to the Senate on S. 3036
June 2, 2008
In early 2009 AMWA distributed a new outline of the Association's priorities for climate change legislation to influential staffers in Congress. The outline requests targeted federal assistance in the area of climate change research and local adaptation projects.
House-Senate Climate Priority Outlines
February, 2009
A National Agenda For Drinking Water Transition Packet
In November AMWA and a coalition of other national drinking water associations prepared a briefing document for President-Elect Obama entitled A National Agenda For Drinking Water. The packet is intended to provide an overview of the major issues facing the nation's drinking water systems heading into 2009, and makes several policy recommendations on these topics.
A National Agenda For Drinking Water
November, 2008
Economic Stimulus Legislation
With Congress planning to enact an infrastructure-based economic stimulus bill early in 2009, AMWA has worked closely with other organizations and congressional staff to include sufficient funding for drinking water infrastructure within the proposal.
Drinking Water Infrastructure Funding Letter
October 16, 2008
Letter to Speaker Pelosi on Drinking Water Funding
December 16, 2008
Letter to Leader Reid on Drinking Water Funding
December 16, 2008
Letter to Chairman Obey in Support of Drinking Water Stimulus Funding - Signed by 36 members of the House of Representatives
December 19, 2008
Letter to Chairman Obey Requesting Additional Stimulus Funds for Water Efficiency Projects
December 23, 2008
Letter to President-elect Obama Requesting Funds for Water and Wastewater Projects
January 7, 2009
Letter to Chairman Inouye/Leader Reid in Support of $10 Billion in Drinking Water Funds - Signed by 11 members of the U.S. Senate
January 16, 2009
Letter to Senate Leaders Supporting Drinking Water Stimulus Funds
January 23, 2009
Letter to Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Chair Dianne Feinstein in Support of an Amendment to Increase Water Stimulus Funds
February 2, 2009
Letter to Senators Boxer and Inhofe in Support of Their Amendment to Increase Infrastructure Funding in the Stimulus Bill
February 4, 2009
Letter to Senator Reid in Support of Urban Drinking Water Infrastructure Funding in the Jobs Bill
January 10, 2010
Following the passage of the economic stimulus bill in February, EPA issued a guidance explaining how it will disperse $6 billion worth of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure funds through the SRF programs.
EPA Water/Wastewater Stimulus Guidance
March 2, 2009
WaterISAC Funding
A bipartisan group of nine U.S. senators recently asked the leaders of the Senate Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee to direct EPA to once again provide a $2 million grant to AMWA to continue the operation of WaterISAC in 2009. The appropriations legislation will be considered in the Senate later this year.
WaterISAC Senate Support Letter
April 2, 2008
Perchlorate Regulation
This year, several bills have been introduced in Congress (S. 24 and S. 150 by Sen. Barbara Boxer and H.R. 1747 by Rep. Hilda Solis) with the intention of forcing EPA to decide whether to regulate perchlorate in drinking water.
AMWA believes that if perchlorate is indeed a public health threat, EPA should set a maximum contaminant level for it. However, the standard must be set based on sound science, not politics.
AMWA welcomes the opportunity to work with members of Congress who wish to move along the process of setting a safe, science-based drinking water standard for perchlorate.
Letter to Rep. Solis on Perchlorate Legislation
March 28, 2007
Clean Water Act Jurisdiction
AMWA has asked its members to review H.R. 2421, the "Clean Water Restoration Act," and consider what impact, if any, its proposed changes to CWA jurisdiction would have on your utility.
AMWA Memo to Members Requesting Comments
June 28, 2007
AMWA Counsel Analysis of H.R. 2421
June 14, 2007
USGS Water Research
AMWA has signed letters to members of Congress and the Administration requesting sufficient funding for USGS' National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA).
NAWQA Letter to House
April 27, 2010
NAWQA Letter to Senate
April 27, 2010
NAWQA Letter to the Obama Administration
February, 2009
NAQWA Letter to House
April 7, 2008
NAWQA Letter to Senate
April 7, 2008
AMWA has also joined letters in support of adequate funding for the USGS National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP) and the Cooperative Water Program (CWP).
NSIP/CWP FY09 Funding Letter
April 15, 2008
NSIP/CWP FY10 Funding Letter
March 3, 2009
Farm Bill Reauthorization
AMWA recently signed these letters to Congress requesting an increase the Farm Bill's Conservation Title funding and the implementation of a new program to better enable water systems to partner with farmers to achieve shared environmental objectives.
Letter in Support of Adequate Funding for Conservation Programs
March 20, 2007
Letter in Support of Cooperative Approaches to Water Quality Protection
May 16, 2007
Letter in Reaction to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson's Conservation Title Proposal
June 13, 2007
Letter to Senate Agriculture Committee in Support of a Regional Watershed Grant Program
June 19, 2007
Letter to Sen. Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin in Support of RWEP
September 4, 2007
RWEP Support Letter Sent to Each Senate Office
September 14, 2007
RWEP Support Letter to Sens. Harkin and Chambliss
October 23, 2007
Letter to House and Senate Agriculture Leaders in Support of RWEP
January 17, 2008
Letter Supporting RWEP in Farm Bill Conference Report
February 22, 2008
Letter to Farm Bill Conferees
April 24, 2008
Following the passage of a 2008 Farm Bill which included a new Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP), AMWA and other water associations wrote to USDA to ensure that the water sector's concerns are addressed as the program is implemented.
Letter to USDA
July 17, 2008
AWEP Implementation Letter
April 17, 2009
CERCLA Animal Waste Exemption
Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate (H.R. 1398 and S. 807) that would exempt animal manure and its byproducts from the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund law. There had been speculation that the House or Senate Agriculture Committees could include the exemption in the Farm Bill reauthorization, and AMWA continues to monitor the issue.
Reject CERCLA Animal Waste Exemption
June 25, 2007
Oppose CERCLA Animal Waste Exemption in Farm Bill
July 23, 2007
AMWA's Testimony Before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
September 6, 2007
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