On July 28, the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change held a hearing titled, There’s Something in the Water: Reforming our Nations Drinking Water Standards, to evaluate the need to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulatory process.

The U.S. House of Representatives on July 21 passed the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA). While the majority of the bill, H.R. 6395, is unrelated to the water sector, there are several provisions related to the handling and cleanup of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a chemical class known more commonly as PFAS.

On July 13, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, signed the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for WIFIA.

On July 8, EPA released the Water Utility COVID-19 Financial Impact Tool to help drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater ("water") utilities assess the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its cashflow.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies has advanced a major appropriations bill by voice vote. The bill included large increases in spending on many water related projects.

The INVEST in America Act (H.R. 2) is a massive infrastructure bill that was put forward by House Democrats with Rep. DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as the main sponsor.

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.

This week, the Senate began considering a minibus that would include funding for the EPA in FY19. This minibus includes funding for Interior & Environment, along with funding for Financial Services, Transportation & Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture & FDA.

Recently, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Program updated information on Health-Based Screening Levels (HBSLs) for sources of drinking water.  The updated information is available in its searchable database.  The information has been updated to consider EPA’s most recent methods and exposure assumptions for establishing drinking water guidelines.

On July 25, EPA held a working and a listening session in Horsham, PA, to hear from affected by toxic nonstick chemicals, known as Per – and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or PFAS, at the agency's second public meeting on the topic.  Horsham has struggled with PFAS contamination suspected to be linked to firefighting foam used at nearby military installations.