Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives on November 20 would permanently extend the “Buy American” iron and steel requirements that currently apply to projects funded through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The DWSRF Buy America requirement is currently scheduled to expire after the 2023 fiscal year.
Sponsored by Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), the Buy America for Drinking Water Extension Act (H.R. 5193) would eliminate the 2023 sunset date. According to a statement from Rep. Bustos, the bill would “create jobs and grow the economy.”
Congress initially imposed domestic iron and steel requirements on DWSRF-funded projects for the 2014 fiscal year, and annually renewed the requirement until America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 extended it though 2023. A separate 2014 law permanently codified similar Buy American rules for Clean Water SRF projects.