The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) would be reauthorized for the first time in its history under legislation introduced February 15 by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.).
Rep. Tonko introduced a similar version of the Assistance, Quality, and Affordability (AQUA) Act (H.R. 1071) last year, but it did not advance out of committee. The bill would authorize more than $21 billion for the DWSRF over five years, and a statement from Rep. Tonko’s office said the measure would also provide increased funding for a new grant program aimed at removing lead service lines. Rep. Tonko is scheduled to speak at AMWA’s 2017 Water Policy Conference on March 28.
As was the case with last year’s version of the AQUA Act, congressional Republicans are unlikely to put the bill on the agenda, as the GOP is currently working to develop ideas for its own water infrastructure bill.