news

This week, Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) introduced H.R. 6353, the Clean Water Affordability Act of 2010.

Currently, many municipal governments are under pressure from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their wastewater infrastructure projects.  The U.S. EPA is handing down mandates to these municipalities for them to upgrade their infrastructure with no financial assistance, forcing communities to foot the bill for the mandated projects.
 
If passed, H.R. 6353 would give municipalities extended loan repayment periods and require states to use 15 percent of funds available through the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund to cover the cost of upgrades for communities with fewer than 10,000 residents that meet certain criteria.  In addition, it will allow states to use up to 30 percent of total capitalization grants received by the state as grant funds.  Finally, the bill will update the EPA’s clean water affordability policy, which has put undue strains on the budgets of local communities.   

“As I travel the Fifth District and meet with local elected officials, this topic continues to be one of their main concerns.  During this time of economic uncertainty, local governments simply cannot afford these infrastructure costs and local residents cannot absorb the rate increases needed to fund these projects.  This legislation, if passed, would provide municipal governments with additional resources to upgrade their wastewater infrastructure systems,” Latta stated after introducing the legislation.

H.R. 6353 has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.