For Immediate Release: Congress Passes Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill; Build Back Better Act Hangs in the Balance
MEDIA CONTACT: Sridhar Vedachalam, Environmental Policy Innovation Center
sri@policyinnovation.org, 614-364-3414 |
Congress passes bipartisan infrastructure bill; Build Back Better Act hangs in the balance
For Immediate Release: November 6, 2021
Washington, DC — Yesterday night, the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684) passed the House 228-206 after passing the Senate in August. This is a monumental investment in our nation’s infrastructure, including our drinking, waste and stormwater systems. This legislation provides $15 billion for lead service line replacement, $10 billion to address PFAS concerns, and appropriates $43.4 billion for low-cost financing through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program over the next five years. The accompanying reconciliation bill, or the Build Back Better Act, is yet to be voted on in the House or Senate.
Katy Hansen, EPIC’s Senior Advisor for Water, provides a background on the infrastructure bills, particularly focusing on how more technical assistance, better prioritization, and more subsidies will help ensure an equitable distribution of federal funding. Maureen Cunningham, Director of Water Strategy, talks about the policy changes needed to speed up replacement of lead pipes.
The following statement can be attributed to Dr. Sridhar Vedachalam, Director of Water Equity at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC):
“The passage of H.R. 3684 in Congress is a big win for water infrastructure after decades of underinvestment. EPIC applauds this new investment in our drinking water and clean water systems. The bipartisan support for this legislation underscores our fundamental belief that investment in our nation’s water systems is not political. We are optimistic that Congress will next pass the reconciliation package that includes additional funding for water infrastructure and implement key policy reforms to ensure that these funds quickly reach the communities who need them most to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable water for all.”
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