On June 24, the WSWC submitted written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. The testimony supports FY2022 funding requests related to water and wastewater infrastructure, including Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs), the Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act (WIFIA), and State and Tribal Assistance Grants for ensuring communities have access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater services.
The WSWC also urged continuing appropriations to support interagency coordination and consultation at the federal, state, and tribal levels. States are primarily responsible for managing water resources and water quality within their borders, and most States employ delegated authority under the Clean Water Act (CWA). This state-federal relationship is especially important in light of the announced review of the 2020 CWA §401 Certification Rule and the definition of “Waters of the United States” in the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.