The chief supporters of several pieces of AMWA-backed legislation were reelected to Congress in November, setting the stage for a continued focus on the association’s priorities in 2013.
Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) faced a strong challenge from Republican Abel Maldonado, but ultimately won reelection by nearly ten points. Capps is the sponsor of the “Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act,” which would help water and wastewater systems adapt to the impacts of global climate change. The bill’s Senate sponsor, Ben Cardin (D-Md.), easily won reelection in his own race with more than 54 percent of the vote against three challengers.
Also cruising to victory was Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.), the sponsor of the “End Unnecessary Mailers Act.” The bill would allow drinking water systems to share their annual consumer confidence reports with customers electronically rather than via the postal mail. The bill’s chief Senate sponsor was not up for reelection in November, but Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.), a key cosponsor of the measure, scored a nine-point victory in his race.
In Ohio, freshman House Republican Bob Gibbs won by twelve points in his first reelection test, beating Joyce Healy-Abrams. Rep. Gibbs is the Chairman of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, and drafted an early version of the WIFIA bill that has started to gain traction in the Senate. Gibbs has not formally introduced his WIFIA proposal, but could do so next year.