US Senate passes critical for Alabama water infrastructure legislation
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA), a comprehensive bill that makes critical investments in water infrastructure systems across the country, by a vote of 99-1. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, praised the passage of the bill which he believes answers President Donald Trump’s call to address America’s aging water infrastructure, is the most sweeping infrastructure package to be considered this Congress. “The state of Alabama and the entire nation will benefit across the board from this water infrastructure bill,” Shelby. “The bipartisan measure provides resources to keep our communities safe by improving drinking water and wastewater systems. It also authorizes important water projects that will create jobs and spur economic growth and development, increasing the impact of federal dollars. I look forward to witnessing the effects of this legislation and will continue to work diligently with my colleagues to prioritize our nation’s immediate and long-term infrastructure needs.” AWIA directs the actions of the Army Corps of Engineers and authorizes major water infrastructure projects that benefit most states – key projects such as deepening nationally significant ports, maintaining inland waterways, upgrading dams and irrigation systems, and increasing water storage. These projects will help safeguard the shipment of American-made goods to the coasts and around the world, while also ensuring water delivery to America’s ranchers and farmers. Further, the measure approves resources to help rural communities participate in successful federal leveraging programs. In an effort to improve safety in local communities, the legislation provides maintenance for dams and levees and addresses drinking water and wastewater systems across the country. Additionally, the legislation reauthorizes the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds for the first time since 1996 – granting states the ability to address drinking water needs. Last month, the House of Representatives passed the legislation by voice vote. The bill will now move to the President’s desk for his signature.
Terri Sewell, Mike Rogers introduce bipartisan bill to address issue plaguing rural America
Two Alabama Members of Congress are putting their partisan politics aside and working together to address the widespread failure of wastewater infrastructure. Democrat and Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell along with Republican Alabama 3rd District U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers introduced the bipartisan H.R. 5837: Rural Septic Tank Access Act on Wednesday, which provides grants for the construction and repair of decentralized wastewater systems in underserved communities. Sewell said she’s seen firsthand the economic, environmental, and health challenges created by failing sewer systems in Alabama. She introduced the bill to provide adequate resources for rural families to afford proper septic systems. “Since coming to Congress, I have met with stakeholders, from public health officials to engineers to lawmakers, to tackle this crisis from its source,” said Sewell. “I believe that the un-affordability of proper wastewater systems in rural America is one of the most overlooked environmental injustices of our time. As Congress considers infrastructure investments this year through the Farm Bill and the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA), I will fight to make sure that every community has the support needed to maintain sustainable, safe, and efficient wastewater systems.” The Rural Septic Tank Access Act would expand the Household Water Well System Grant Program, to be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to provide grants of up to $20,000 for rural low- and moderate-income households to install or maintain individually-owned decentralized wastewater systems. “I am proud to join my friend and colleague Rep. Sewell on this important legislation,” said Rogers. “Access to working wastewater systems is a bipartisan issue. Rural America can’t be left behind, and this legislation ensures that folks in our districts and across America have a way forward from failing wastewater infrastructure.” While there is no national study estimating the number of Americans with failing septic systems, estimates suggest that over a million families may face unsafe conditions as a result of inadequate rural wastewater systems. In February, Rep. Sewell toured homes in Lowndes County to survey wastewater infrastructure in Alabama’s Black Belt. In March, she worked with House appropriators to include an additional $1.8 billion in funding for water and wastewater infrastructure through an omnibus spending bill. Democrat and Alabama’s junior Sen. Doug Jones, along with West Virginia-Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and New Jersey-Democrat Sen. Cory Booker introduced a companion bill in the Senate in April. Sewell will hold a Public Health Fair with Jones on May 30 to raise public awareness about the health consequences associated with failing sceptic systems and wastewater contamination, and to provide an opportunity for safe and confidential health screenings.
The week ahead for the U.S. House and Senate – Dec. 5-9, 2016
As President-elect Donald Trump continues to fill top positions in his cabinet this week, lawmakers look to begin wrapping up their legislative year by passing a stopgap spending bill in order keep the government running into 2017. Here’s what both chambers are working on this week: U.S. House of Representatives On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives is in session and will consider several bills under Suspension of the Rules. A full list of bills can be found here. On Tuesday, the House is expected to continue with the consideration of several suspension bills. For the balance of the week, the House is expected to consider the following: H.R. 5143: Transparent Insurance Standards Act. The bill prohibits the United States from agreeing to any international insurance standards unless the government first publicly publishes the proposal, seeks public comment and reports to Congress on the impact of those standards on U.S. markets and consumers. It also prohibits the adoption of any international insurance capital standards until after the Federal Reserve issues domestic capital standards for insurance companies. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None WRDA: Negotiators from the House and Senate are expected to reach an agreement on a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA; “wurd-uh”). Generally speaking, a WRDA is legislation that authorizes new water projects for construction by the Army Corps of Engineers. This final WRDA may also be the vehicle to help provide aid to Flint, Mich., whose drinking water system has been contaminated by lead. The bill would likely contain an authorization for that aid and actual funding may be packaged as part of the continuing resolution (CR) that the House will also consider this week. Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A FY2017 CR: The House is expected to consider a continuing resolution (CR) that will extend current federal funding until sometime after March 2017. The final timeline of the CR is still being determined. Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A The Senate is in session this week and expected to consider both the 21st Century Cures package and the NDAA that passed the House last week. The Senate will also likely consider both WRDA and the FY2017 CR after House consideration. U.S. Senate The Senate is in session this week and expected to consider both the 21st Century Cures package and the NDAA that passed the House last week. The Senate will also likely consider both WRDA and the FY2017 CR following House consideration.
This week in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate: Sept. 26-30, 2016
It’s a busy week for both chambers as the federal fiscal year ends on Friday, Sept. 30 and Congress must pass a continuing resolution (CR) or other form of appropriations legislation prior to Oct. 1 in order avert a government shutdown. U.S. House of Representatives The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to be in session Monday through Friday this week and expected to recess for the November elections once a CR is enacted. On Monday, the House will consider several bills under Suspension of the Rules. A full list of bills can be found here. On Tuesday, the House will begin consideration of H.R. 5303: the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). WRDA’s are regular legislation that authorize federal water projects. This WRDA bill authorizes 27 new water projects for construction by the Army Corps of Engineers and authorizes the corps to conduct feasibility studies for 29 possible projects. It also deauthorizes five existing projects and establishes an expedited process for the deauthorization of other projects that are no longer viable. Additionally it modifies the water project selection process created by the 2014 WRDA and other elements of that law. It should be noted that the Senate-passed version (S. 2848) of the bill includes aid to help the city of Flint,MI, respond to lead in its drinking water. Alabama co-sponsor(s): None. The Majority Leader has indicated that additional legislative items are also possible for the balance of the week: FY2017 Continuing Resolution (CR): The House expects to act this week on a stopgap CR to continue funding the government once the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. The pending CR is expected to fund the government through Dec. 9, provide emergency funding to respond to the Zika virus, and provide disaster funding to help Louisiana and other states recently devastated by flooding. Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A JASTA Veto Override: The House may also consider a vote to override the president’s veto of S. 2040: Justice Against State Sponsors of Terror Act, which the president vetoed on Sept. 23. JASTA permits possible lawsuits by U.S. victims of international terrorism against foreign nationals by narrowing the immunity of foreign states and their employees or agents from such lawsuits, and by granting U.S. district courts jurisdiction over certain terrorism-related cases. If enacted, the measure could allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi citizens for supporting organizations that helped those who conducted the 9/11 attacks. The bill was passed unanimously in the House by voice vote earlier this month. The Senate will act first on the veto. Alabama co-sponsor(s): N/A U.S. Senate This week, the U.S. Senate will continue consideration of a 10-week CR. The pending CR is expected to fund the government through Dec. 9, one week before Congress is currently scheduled to adjourn for the December holidays.
