Legislative Affairs
WEF's Interest in U.S. Legislative Priorities
Under the leadership of the Legislative Subcommittee of WEF’s
Government Affairs Committee, WEF tracks, monitors and actively comments on legislation impacting clean water issues. WEF works closely with its membership to educate Congress on clean water issues impacting their districts and States.
WEF Testimony
WEF will often submit written or oral testimony on various clean water legislative issues on which Congress holds hearings. WEF members and the general public can download copies of testimony that WEF submits
here.
Legislative News Updates
April 2009
WEF Vice-President Jeanette Brown provides Congressional testimony on Energy Efficiency and Energy Independence for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment. Review her blog on the issue and read the press release.
March 3, 2009
WEF Joint Letter to House Appropriations Committee in Support of Funding USGS Stream Gauging Programs
WEF was one of 53 organizations that sent a joint letter to the House Appropriations Committee on March 3, 2009 in support funding of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Cooperative Water Program (CWP) and National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP).
October 2008
WEF Comments on U.S. EPA Draft Strategy on Climate Change
Read a summary of the draft strategy and WEF's comments here.
September 2008
Biosolids Briefing Cancelled
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee canceled a briefing on biosolids land application issues after a letter surfaced that indicated that two of the scheduled witnesses tried to use the briefing to win a settlement in a lawsuit they brought against the University of Georgia Research Foundation.
June 2008
Water Environment Federation’s Vice President Testifies at House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Hearing
The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment met on Tuesday, June 24, 2008, to receive testimony on Comprehensive Watershed Management and Planning efforts. Water Environment Federation Vice President Paul Freedman was asked to testify on behalf of WEF along with witnesses from other water-related entities.
May 2008
WEF Urges Congress to Address Water Resource Impacts of Climate Change
As Congress prepares to begin consideration of climate change legislation, a coalition of eight national water organizations are calling on senators and representatives to recognize the severe impacts that global climate change will likely have on water resources in the United States.
The groups – whose members serve the vast majority of U.S. water and wastewater consumers – are urging Congress to ensure that upcoming climate change legislation includes federal support and incentives to help drinking water providers, flood and stormwater agencies, and wastewater systems confront the impacts of climate change.
On May 20, a letter and joint statement were sent to members of the House and Senate in advance of next month’s planned consideration of S. 2191, the “Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act.”
Legislative News Archives
October 2007
WEF Recognizes the 35th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act
On October 15, 2007, the Government Affairs Committee hosted “The Next 35 Years of the Clean Water Act,” a session at WEFTEC.07 in which panelists discussed new actions that must be taken to preserve and extend the goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA) for the next three and a half decades.
Click here to read the full summary.
December 2006WEF Board of Trustees Approves Position Statement on 2007 Farm Bill Reauthorization
On December 12, 2006, the WEF Board of Trustees gave final approval to WEF’s position statement on the
2007 Farm Bill reauthorization effort.
November 2006Election Brings Changes to both House and Senate - Impact on Water Issues UnclearCongressional Briefings
From time to time WEF co-sponsors briefings with the U.S. Geological Survey’s
National Water Quality Assessment Program for congressional staff and other interested organizations on clean water topics. Below is information about recent and upcoming Congressional Briefings.
For more information, contact: Tim Williams, Managing Director, Government Affairs, 703-684-2437 or
twilliams@wef.org.