Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Rick Scott (R-FL) have teamed up to introduce a bipartisan bill to modernize the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) to meet changing needs rather than remain a fixed allotment system.
Context for What the Bill Does
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) is a joint federal and state program that provides low-interest loans to communities to invest in water quality infrastructure projects, including municipal wastewater facilities, nonpoint source pollution control, decentralized wastewater treatment systems, stormwater runoff mitigation, green infrastructure, estuary protection, and water reuse.
However, the allotment system has remained at a fixed percentage since the program came into effect in 1988, and states like Arizona and Florida have changed significantly since then.
As a result, the Clean Water Allotment Modernization Act would update the system to a more needs-based plan, formulated by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), distributing funds based on infrastructure needs and state population levels, especially for amounts at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
What Lawmakers are Saying
"Arizona has grown dramatically, but the allocation system for federal water infrastructure funding hasn't been updated," said Sen. Kelly in a press release. "Our bipartisan bill fixes this so Arizona gets the resources it needs for a secure water future."
Similarly, Sen. Scott said, "It's time to bring the CWSRF into the 21st century. Through the Clean Water Allotment Act, Florida, along with 30 other states, will start receiving the proper funds, which reflect our modern population sizes, areas of need, and economically constrained areas. This will help maintain our clean water infrastructure while protecting our beautiful natural lakes, rivers, and wetlands."
Kelly's Previous Water Bills
In March, Sen. Kelly introduced the Community Water Project Acceleration Act, another bipartisan bill with Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) that streamlines the federal review requirements for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works projects with limited federal funding, a system modeled after that used for federal highway projects.
More recently, in June, Arizona Senator introduced a bill reauthorizing the Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program Act (TAAP) with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX).
