AMWA’s 2014 Water Policy Conference will convene next month in Washington, DC, with an agenda that features some of Capitol Hill’s leading voices on drinking water policy. Members of Congress confirmed to speak at the meeting include the chairs and ranking members of the respective House and Senate subcommittees with jurisdiction over the Safe Drinking Water Act, as well as other influential lawmakers.
Members of Congress scheduled to address AMWA members during the conference include:
- Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee and a strong advocate for maintaining water infrastructure funding.
- Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee’s ranking Republican, will discuss EPA oversight priorities and other issues facing the panel this year.
- Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), chair of the House subcommittee with oversight of the Safe Drinking Water Act, will discuss his panel’s agenda for 2014.
- Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) will share his perspective as the lead Democrat on the House subcommittee with oversight of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Rep. Tonko was a leading supporter of the “Community Fire Safety Act,” which exempted fire hydrants from new “lead-free” rules for drinking water pipes and plumbing fixtures.
- Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), Chairman of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee and a leading proponent of the proposed “Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act” (WIFIA).
- Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), the lead Democrat on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, will share thoughts on the range of options Congress may consider this year to increase investment in water and wastewater infrastructure.
- Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.), a member of the House Financial Services Committee and a leading advocate for maintaining tax-exempt municipal bonds.
The Water Policy Conference will be held April 6 – 9 in Washington, DC. The full conference program, along with information on how to register, is available at www.amwa.net/events.