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Rep. Schrier Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fund Critical Water Infrastructure, Keep Customer Rates Affordable

June 16, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC – Today Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) introduced the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Amendments of 2022, a bipartisan bill to fund critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Washington State. Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Sharice Davids (D-KS) are co-leading this bill with Rep. Schrier.

“I’m proud to author legislation to allow our local water operators access to critical loans and long-term, stable funding for water infrastructure projects in Washington state,” said Rep. Schrier. “Funding these local projects will keep our water clean and ensure a reliable supply of water while keeping costs low for ratepayers.”

The bill makes common-sense fixes and includes parts of previously introduced legislation to improve the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA), a law which created a federal credit program administered by the EPA for eligible water and wastewater infrastructure projects. 

“Representative Schrier’s bill would allow many irrigation districts in the rural West access to long term affordable loans from the WIFIA program for much needed infrastructure improvement construction on water projects that are crucial to the Yakima Basin and the West. We need all the tools in the toolbox, especially this one to help solve our future water supply problems.“ – Urban Eberhart, Board Member of Kittitas Reclamation District

“Federal water projects play a significant role in our way of life throughout Central Washington,” said Rep. Newhouse. “Unfortunately, much of our water infrastructure is aging and in need of repair or maintenance. This legislation will improve the Water Infrastructure and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan program to help our water managers' and operators' finance these critical projects, securing long-term success for this infrastructure. I am proud to lead on this legislation, which builds off of my previous bills to make public water projects eligible for low-interest, longer-term federal loans, and help ensure clean and consistent water and irrigation for the families in rural communities across the West for generations to come.”

The program was reauthorized through 2026 by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Specifically, the bill:

  • Broadens WIFIA funding and financing eligibility to state and federal projects and entities. This includes state-led water storage projects, transferred works of the Bureau of Reclamation, and congressionally authorized Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) projects.
  •  Authorizes the use of collaborative project delivery methods for WIFIA projects, allowing more flexibility and reducing time and cost of the project.
  • Allows certain federal water infrastructure loans to have maturity dates of up to 55 years.
  • Reauthorizes USACE WIFIA program through FY2026.
  • Directs the USACE to implement its WIFIA program, which it has not done despite its authorization in 2014.

“The West is facing a water shortage crisis. Now more than ever, it is critical that we continue investing in water storage infrastructure projects, said Rep. LaMalfa. “Across the nation, these projects will also assist in flood control, constructing hydropower dams for low-cost electricity, and delivering water to agriculture producers.”

“We cannot ignore the devastating impacts of drought on California and the West. We must quickly and effectively invest in our crumbling water infrastructure so that we can conserve every drop of water possible,” said Rep. Costa. “I am proud to co-sponsor this bipartisan legislation to accelerate investment in our water system."

“This bipartisan legislation would unlock nearly $6 billion in low-interest federal financing for western water projects, including to modernize the pumps for the Central Valley Project,” said Rep. Garamendi. “We need all the federal and state resources we can get to meet western states’ future water supply needs and achieve a truly drought-resilient water system given climate change. I thank Congresswoman Schrier for leading this critical legislation to make smart federal investments to upgrade and modernize California’s water supply.”

“Water infrastructure is critical to the health, safety, and wellbeing of our communities, but too often people don't think about it until it breaks. By making low-interest federal funding available and creating new, innovative ways to execute these water projects, we’re helping local officials plan and save before disaster strikes,” said Rep. Davids. “The Kansas Third has already taken advantage of these loans to repair and replace aging wastewater systems, and I look forward to making those opportunities available to more projects in our community.”

Support from endorsing organizations:

“The Columbia Basin Development League supports the amendments to WIFIA proposed by Representative Schrier and other co-sponsors.  The amendments directly respond to the need for water infrastructure funding that accounts for circumstances that have historically been excluded from funding access. Among other provisions, clarity provided by the amendments critically addresses eligibility issues that could make WIFIA a funding source for irrigation district projects within the Columbia Basin Project.” – Sara Higgins, Executive Director of the Columbia Basin Development League

“On behalf of the Yakima Basin Joint Board (Joint Board), I write in full support of your amendment to the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 that, among other things, would amend the Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) program to extend repayment terms and expand eligibility to improve the use of WIFIA loans to help finance water infrastructure improvements in the Yakima River Basin in Washington State.” – Lori Brady, President of the Yakima Basin Joint Board.

 “…Our Western membership will require funding and financing from many sources, and your amendment would open an entire suite of common-sense, fiscally responsible financing tools that would be very helpful to us in this effort…” – Dan Keppen, Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance

 

This legislation is endorsed by:

Columbia Basin Development League

Yakima Basin Joint Board

American Society of Civil Engineers

Family Farm Alliance

National Rural Water Association

American Public Works Association

Northern California Water Association

Sacramento River Settlement Contractors

Association of California Water Agencies

Friant Water Authority