Proposed Water Trust Fund Bill Would Provide Solid Foundation for Improvement
Aug 31, 2009
American Society of Civil Engineers Commends Rep. Blumenauer for Commitment to Protecting Nation’s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Systems
At a press conference (15th July) to announce Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s plan to introduce legislation to create a Water Trust Fund (the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) expressed strong support for the creation of a stable, long-term funding mechanism and commended Blumenauer for his support for the nation’s infrastructure. The Society noted that such a commitment will be essential to the renewal of these vital national resources, but that provisions—such as making the program deficit-neutral and including budgetary firewalls to prevent the diversion of monies collected—must be included to ensure long-term, sustainable success.
In the Society’s 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, ASCE assigned both wastewater and drinking water systems a barely passing grade of D-. According to ASCE president D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE, "Every day we rely on seemingly invisible water and wastewater systems to support our quality of life and the nation’s economy, and yet they suffer from inattention and underfunding. A long-term, dedicated funding source, like the one proposed by Congressman Blumenauer, will go a long way in ensuring that these vital systems can continue to support the health and safety of the American people."
Later in the afternoon, a representative from ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure Advisory Council, Dale Jacobson, P.E., BCEE, will testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment about the potential challenges facing the trust fund proposal, as well as the potential opportunities and benefits such a program could bring.
Contact:
American Society of Civil Engineers
1801 Alexander Bell Drive
Reston, VA 20191
PH.: (800) 548-2723
Internet: www.asce.org
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