04.29.21

Hoeven: Senate Passes Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act

Senator Cosponsored Legislation, Reauthorizes WIFIA for Five Years

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Committee, today voted to approve the bipartisan Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, legislation he cosponsored that reauthorizes funding for important water and wastewater programs, including revolving loan programs and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

Hoeven has advocated for WIFIA to provide low-cost financing for water infrastructure projects. Specifically, the Senator has worked to advance a WIFIA loan for the Fargo-Moorhead region’s permanent flood protection to significantly reduce the long-term expenses of the project.

“This bipartisan legislation authorizes important programs that help communities improve their drinking and wastewater infrastructure, with strong support for small, rural and tribal communities,” said Hoeven. “Additionally, the bill reauthorizes the WIFIA program, an important tool we’ve worked to advance to help construct permanent flood protection in the Red River Valley.”

The legislation authorizes approximately $35 billion over five years for several EPA grant programs and revolving loan funds. More than 40 percent of the $35 billion authorization can be used by small, rural and tribal communities. Specifically, the legislation authorizes the following:

  • The Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act (WIFIA), which provides low-cost financing for local water projects.
  • The State Revolving Loan Funds to invest in community water projects to address aging infrastructure and improve water quality.
  • The Assistance for Small and Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program to assist rural and disadvantaged communities in improving access to clean, safe drinking water.
  • Initiatives to connect low-income households to public water and wastewater services and decentralized wastewater services.
  • Drinking water infrastructure improvement projects on Indian reservations.
  • Sewer overflow and stormwater reuse programs in rural and financially distressed communities.
  • Efforts to remove and replace lead pipes and funding for lead testing in schools and child care centers.
  • Initiatives to increase resiliency to natural hazards, extreme weather events, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
  • Water workforce development initiatives through education and apprenticeship programs. 

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