Position #2026-03 – Support for SRFs, WIFIA, and State & Tribal Assistance Grants
Policy Summary
Safe drinking water and effective wastewater infrastructure financing is essential to public health, economic growth, environmental protection, and the states’ ability to carry out delegated federal water programs. The Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) remain the most effective and flexible tools for delivering federal water infrastructure assistance because states administer them, set priorities through intended use plans, and can target funding where it is needed most. SRF capitalization grants provided to states support critical funding for water infrastructure to communities. State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) provide necessary funding to states to implement federally delegated Clean Water Act (CWA) and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) programs. The Water Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans also play an important role for eligible projects, but they should complement, not displace, proven state-led programs.
The need remains substantial. EPA’s most recent reports estimate over $630 billion in clean water infrastructure and $625 billion in drinking water infrastructure needs over the next twenty years.
WSWC Urges Congress and the Administration to:
1. Provide stable, adequate appropriations for the Clean Water SRF, Drinking Water SRF, WIFIA, and State and Tribal Assistance Grants.
2. Keep states in the lead on identifying priorities and administering SRF assistance through intended use plans.
3. Reduce burdensome and unnecessary federal restrictions that limit flexibility, increase costs to states and funding recipients, slow project delivery, or make SRF assistance less effective.
4. Use WIFIA to supplement, not replace, SRF funding.
5. Protect State and Tribal Assistance Grants, including Performance Partnership Grants, which support foundational CWA & SDWA programs, timely regulatory actions and reviews, technical assistance, source water protection, and related state program responsibilities.
6. Avoid reductions to SRFs, including through congressionally directed spending or other diversions, that reduce state capacity to support priority projects for communities and state program implementation.
7. Support water workforce recruitment, training, and retention. A growing wave of retirements and too few new workers threaten the staffing needed to operate and maintain water systems and protect public health and the environment.
Core Message
Federal water infrastructure policy should continue to support proven, state-led federal funding programs that address community needs; avoid policies and actions that reduce state efficiency and flexibility; and reliably sustain and strengthen the programs that help communities deliver safe drinking water and clean water services.
What WSWC Is Asking For
1. Maintain and strengthen appropriations for the Clean Water SRF, Drinking Water SRF, WIFIA, and STAG.
2. Preserve state authority to set priorities and manage SRF assistance.
3. Reduce federal mandates and restrictions that weaken SRF effectiveness.
4. Ensure new infrastructure initiatives, community investment projects, and Congressional spending priorities do not come at the expense of SRF capitalization grants.
5. Support workforce development needed to build, operate, and maintain water systems.
Closing Statement
WSWC supports a strong federal-state partnership to help communities build, repair, and maintain essential drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Congress and the Administration should provide stable support for SRFs, WIFIA, and STAG, preserve state flexibility, and support the workforce needed to make these investments succeed.
Jurisdiction
Senate Committee
● Environment & Public Works
● House Committees of Jurisdiction
● Energy & Commerce
● Transportation & Infrastructure
Relevant Appropriations Subcommittee
● Interior, Environment & Related Agencies
Relevant Federal Agency
● U.S. Environmental Protection Agency