LEAGUE’S ADVOCACY INFLUENCES BIPARTISAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE EFFORT

Along with organizations from across the country, the League's advocacy recently resulted in a bipartisan letter, led by Congressmen Newhouse (R-WA) and Jim Costa (D-CA), to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to urge inclusion of water infrastructure provisions in any forthcoming infrastructure package. The letter was signed by 54 Members of Congress including Washington Representatives, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Kim Schrier, Suzan DelBene, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Pramila Jayapal, and Derek Kilmer.

The following is an excerpt from the letter:

"In addition to the vital need for storage and conservation projects, we must also develop and invest in our water delivery systems.  For farmers and ranchers, water is essential to their livelihood and ensures that all Americans have an affordable, safe, and reliable food supply.  With the increase in demand for a robust and diverse food supply, and without reliable water to provide for our farmers and ranchers, there is no guarantee that American consumers can continue to receive the same high-quality and safe products they need to provide for their families....A comprehensive package must also include policies and processes to streamline the ability of our communities to move forward with the construction or implementation of these water delivery systems in an expeditious manner.  Rather than allowing the status quo to continue to hamstring water infrastructure rehabilitation and development, equipping water providers with the tools to efficiently address water shortages will provide important and desperately-needed services for our constituents. By streamlining outdated, burdensome processes, we can also ensure federal taxpayer dollars are being invested efficiently while adeptly tackling the severe water challenges facing communities across the country."

To read the full letter, visit: www.newhouse.house.gov