On Oct. 29, the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a mark up session on H.R. 1497, the Water Quality and Job Creation Act of 2019. U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced the legislation, which would empower Congress to appropriate $16.68 billion over 5 years to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), which provides low-interest wastewater infrastructure loans to utilities.

On Oct. 22, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced that 38 new projects in 18 states are being invited to apply for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans.

On Oct. 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) would receive a $436 million WIFIA loan to finance 23 wastewater and drinking water projects across the state.

On August 29, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved a pilot study at Pease International Tradeport to examine health implications related to per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) exposure.

On August 27, EPA announced registration was now open for the next webinar in the Safe and Sustainable Water Resources Webinar Series.

This webinar, presented by the WEF Government Affairs Department and the Government Affairs Committee Member Association Subcommittee, will provide an update on legislative and regulatory issues in Washington. In addition, Member Associations (MAs) will report on regional issues and initiatives with a focus on how they interact with their state legislature and regulatory agencies. This is a quarterly update and each quarter different MAs will provide regional updates.

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who contacted Congress in opposition to the Dingell PFAS amendment. Unfortunately, it was ruled in order by the Rules Committee and will be on the House Floor for a vote sometime this week. Additionally, another PFAS amendment was ruled in order and it's equally problematic for the wastewater and drinking water sectors. Please send another letter to your Member of Congress opposing the new amendment and Dingell amendment.

On June 18, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report titled “Regulating Drinking Water Contaminants: EPA PFAS Actions” was published in order to summarize the effects PFAS legislation would have on the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) among other statutes. The CRS report also covers EPA’s new PFAS Action Plan.

On June 11, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed the proposed rule - Clean Water Act (CWA) Methods Update Rule for Analysis of Effluent (SAN 6653).

On Wednesday, June 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will cohost a webinar on federal grants and innovative financing options for reducing nutrients.