Senate Holds Bipartisan Hearing on the Nation’s Water Infrastructure

The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife held a hearing on “Our Nation’s Water Infrastructure: Challenges and Opportunities” December 13.  Bipartisan sentiment ran through the hearing, both parties mutually agreed on the witnesses and expressed support for increased funding for water infrastructure. 

In his opening statement Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee, emphasized the large number jobs created by funding infrastructure projects. Senator Sessions (R-Ala.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, expressed his support for infrastructure funding as a way to create jobs saying, it was a better way to stimulate the economy than a payroll tax holiday.

 Jim Hanlon, EPA’s Director of Wastewater Management, touted the success of the State Revolving Loan Program, noting it provides a return on investment of more than 2.5 to 1.  Since the SRF’s inception, the program has financed over $111 billion in projects. Despite this investment, EPA’s needs assessment survey identified $635 billion in needed upgrades over the next 20 years.  During the question and answer session, Mr. Hanlon declined to suggest alternative mechanisms to help bridge the funding gap.

Other witnesses testifying at the hearing were Mr. Greg DiLoreto President-Elect, American Society of Civil Engineers; Mr. Joe Freeman, Chief Financial Assistance Division, State of Oklahoma Water Resources Board; Mr. Theodore Scott, Executive Vice President and Founder, Stormwater Maintenance; Mr. Van Richey, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Cast Iron Pipe Company.