Action
Needed by April 1, 2009
The $819 billion economic stimulus bill the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed, and which the Senate will soon begin debating, doesn't contain enough money for water and sewer infrastructure projects. The U.S. Senate has cut by half the funding for water infrastructure, leaving not nearly enough to improve water quality and to ensure the integrity of water and sewer infrastructure in our nation, state or district.
Furthermore, a comprehensive, long-term solution to our water woes requires a federal trust fund to address Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the United States is falling short on water infrastructure spending by $22 billion a year. A trust fund would help communities keep their water clean, safe and affordable. Such investment also would create employment opportunities for many Americans and give our economy a much-needed boost.
We urge citizens to contact their senators and President Obama and ask them to increase the amount of money allotted to water and sewer infrastructure projects in the final version of the economic stimulus bill (H.R. 1 in the House of Representatives and S.1 in the Senate). More importantly, stress to them the importance of creating a federal trust fund to ensure safe and sound water and wastewater systems now and for future generations.
We urge Congress and the President to restore the full $11 billion for water infrastructure to the stimulus package. We also oppose the provision that private companies can access 50% of the grant money, which would take much-needed funds from struggling cities and towns. We need 1,000 letters delivered to Members of the Senate by Monday to protect your access to clean water and to promote job creation in your community.
Write to your Senators now. You will then be taken to the letter to President Obama - that action is just as important to take. Please take it and then invite others to take action to protect our water infrustructure.
