Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives last week would authorize $13.8 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) over five years while also establishing a Clean Water Trust Fund and a new program to help large wastewater infrastructure projects receive funding through the CWSRF.
Sponsored by Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), the “Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act” (H.R. 1877) follows the blueprint of a bill he originally introduced in 2011, but which receive a committee vote. It is not yet clear whether this version will have more success, but new taxes necessary to establish a trust fund are likely to draw strong opposition from House Republicans.