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EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt returned to Capitol Hill on May 16 to testify on the agency’s FY19 budget plan, and told senators that he is working to educate more communities about funding opportunities through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

Similar to his testimony before a House panel in April, Pruitt told members of a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that “WIFIA complements the SRF [State Revolving Fund] programs as an additional innovative and flexible source of low-cost capital for communities of all sizes.”  He went on to say that EPA hopes to use the next round of WIFIA loans to help communities replace lead service lines.

In response to a question during the hearing about WIFIA’s capabilities, Pruitt said, “a lot of communities across the country just simply are not aware of the opportunity” offered by WIFIA.  In response, Pruitt said EPA is working with state governors and others to educate potential applicants about the program.

“The agency has to do more to advance awareness” about WIFIA and solicit a range of different applications, such as those that bundle projects together, Pruitt said.

EPA recently extended until July 31 the initial application deadline for the next round of WIFIA loans that will offer as much as $5.5 billion in financing for water and wastewater projects.  EPA has scheduled two upcoming webinars to educate potential applicants about the program.

A Senate Appropriations subcommittee plans to mark up its draft FY19 spending legislation for EPA during the week of June 11.