Charlotte (N.C.) Water Director and WEF member Angela Lee testified during a Feb. 7 hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee.
The hearing, titled “The Cost of Doing Nothing: Why Investing in Our Nation’s Infrastructure Cannot Wait,” focused on the need to increase federal funding for infrastructure. The committee heard testimony from state and local government officials, along with leaders representing various organizations and industries. Lee testified on behalf of WEF and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies and focused specifically on water infrastructure needs.
Although much of the hearing was focused on surface transportation infrastructure needs, the message about water infrastructure needs did break through too. Other panelists, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti were particularly vocal about funding for water infrastructure through the Clean Water SRF and in general. Dir. Lee received some good questions that allowed her to also push for Clean Water SRF reauthorization and talk about the water sector’s resource recovery efforts.
The hearing comes after President Donald Trump failed to mention water infrastructure during his State of the Union speech and a fact sheet distributed by the White House about infrastructure priorities did not include a reference to water and wastewater.
"Our members have consistently been at the forefront of advocating for increased federal funding and investment in water infrastructure," said WEF Executive Director Eileen O'Neill. "As Congress prepares to develop a comprehensive infrastructure package, we are appreciative of the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing the water sector on a national stage."
WEF recently joined a coalition of more than 90 national, state, and local organizations asking Congress to include funding and financing for drinking water, wastewater, water reuse, and stormwater infrastructure in any infrastructure package considered during the 116th Congress.
To read the letter, click here.
For more information and to watch a livestream of the hearing, read the announcement here.
To hear a recording of the hearing, click here.
To read Lee’s full written testimony, click here.
