NASSCO members from across the United States converged on Washington D.C. in May to meet with their elected representatives. The group included 14 NASSCO members and staff who represented Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington State.
A total of 32 meetings took place, highlighting NASSCO and the benefits of trenchless assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation solutions, followed by meaningful discussions regarding underground infrastructure needs in each state. The meetings concluded with a request to support NASSCO’s key policy recommendations, which include:
Fund water/wastewater and stormwater infrastructure
Congress should include in the FY26 budget full funding for all federal programs that fund water infrastructure. This funding is vital for helping utilities, communities and local businesses. A recent U.S. EPA report found that $630 billion is needed for water infrastructure projects over the next 20 years, of which $302.9 billion (48%) are for wastewater collections systems, stormwater systems and combined sewer overflow prevention projects to meet federal Clean Water Act regulations.
Protect tax-exempt municipal bonds
The tax-exempt status of municipal bonds that fund local water infrastructure investment should be maintained. Proposals are circulating on and off Capitol Hill to eliminate the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds to help pay for major tax legislation. The impact of this will have negative impacts on ratepayers and utilities.
Strengthen asset management requirement and funding
Congress should require that wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects that receive federal funding have asset management plans, and that grants and technical assistance be provided to communities that lack the financial and technical resources to develop comprehensive asset management plans.
Certified inspectors and standardized inspection methods
Congress should direct the EPA, USDA, Department of Transportation, and other federal agencies to require certified inspectors and a standardized inspection method for projects that receive federal funding. In order to protect the interests of taxpayers and ensure that federal support for infrastructure investments are well spent, certified inspectors should perform pipe assessments and standardized inspection practices of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems should be required.
While Congress has made significant movement in both legislation and funding to address our nation’s water infrastructure, and hundreds of projects continue to move forward, both small and large communities are still struggling to keep pace with replacing or repairing aging and degrading water, wastewater and stormwater pipe systems. With increasing incidents of these failing systems, the issue of public health and safety comes into play and consumers and businesses are not receiving the reliable and high-quality service that utilities strive to provide.
The need to replace or repair water infrastructure will take time and continued federal support, particularly for small and rural communities. To learn more and get involved, visit nassco.org/advocacy/government-relations.
