COVID-19 Legislation

AWWA has issued a Legislative Alert asking members to contact their own members of Congress to communicate of the water sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The alert is based on the findings of an economic analysis of the effects of the pandemic on drinking water utilities. The analysis – performed by Raftelis – was a joint project by AWWA and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies.

Farm Bill

Congress made a tremendous leap forward in furthering protection of many of our nation’s sources of drinking water in H.R. 2 in the 115th Congress, also known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. AWWA members and staff held many meetings with members of the House and Senate agricultural committees as they developed the conservation title of H.R. 2. We look forward to working with producers, utilities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is helping with the implementation of conservation programs that protect source waters.

Water Infrastructure Finance

Water infrastructure legislation is starting to move through this session of Congress. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has approved and sent to the full Senate two bills dealing with water infrastructure. S. 3590, the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020, makes some changes to the drinking water state revolving loan fund program, advances lead reduction and creates some small grant programs for resiliency and infrastructure-related activities. S. 3591, America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020, is basically a normal two-year water resources development bill, but with some significant new features. AWWA offered its own comments on the two bills before the committee voted on them.

Canceled: 2020 Water Maters! Fly In 

Given the federal recommendations against most travel and against gatherings of more than 10 people, bans on staff travel by municipal and state governments, plus societal responsibilities to try to contain the coronavirus, AWWA is canceling the 2020 edition of our Water Matters! Fly-In. While we don’t know how large a problem the coronavirus will be in six weeks – the scheduled date for the Fly-In – recommendations for reducing travel and for social distancing extend beyond that time. Learn more here.

Have additional Fly In Questions? Email us at Flyininfo@awwa.org