Great Lakes Coalition Applauds House Passage of Major Infrastructure Bill

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 24, 2020) — The Healing Our Waters — Great Lakes Coalition applauds the U.S. House of Representatives and its Great Lakes Delegation for passing the Interior and Environment funding bill this afternoon. The bill’s modest year-over-year increases are bolstered substantially by more than $11 billion in emergency supplemental funding for clean water programs.“The Healing Our Waters — Great Lakes Coalition fully supports the House Interior and Environment funding bill that was passed today,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters — Great Lakes Coalition. “The bill substantially boosts federal investments in clean water priorities that will accelerate progress in restoring the Great Lakes, protecting our drinking water, improving access to affordable water, safeguarding public health, and bolstering the economy.“The priorities in this bill are long-standing Coalition priorities, and we look forward to working with bipartisan members in the Senate to pass this legislation to better our environment and economy and to protect our public health.”The bill also includes an additional $500 million in emergency supplemental funding for lead pipe replacement through the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program. Lead by Rep. Tlaib (MI-13) and Rep. Kildee (MI-05), supported by the Coalition and approved by the House, the amendment doubled the funds available for the program.The Interior and Environment funding bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. The funding bill includes:Regular Appropriations:

• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Up to $335 million — $15 million increase from Fiscal Year 2020 enacted (FY2020).
• Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1,638,826,000 — no increase from FY2020.
• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $1,126,088,000 — no increase from FY2020.
• Small and Disadvantaged Communities program: $26,000,000 — $592,000 increase from FY2020.
• Lead testing in Schools program: $26,000,000 — no increase from FY2020.
• Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $20,000,000 — $489,000 increase from FY2020.
• 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $56,700,000 — $28.7 million increase.

Additional Emergency Supplemental Funding:

• Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $6,355,000,000
• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $3,855,000,000
• Lead Testing in Schools program: $50,000,000
• Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $1,000,000,000
• 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $400,000,000

The bill includes funding for fiscal year 2021, which begins October 1, 2020, and ends September 30, 2021.