ACEC/MA Legislative Alert: Contact your State Rep. Thursday morning to Support ARPA Funding for Water Infrastructure
The Massachusetts House of Representatives released its plan for ARPA spending on 10/25/21 and is only allocating $100 million to the Clean Water Trust for water/wastewater infrastructure. This bill is: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4219
We understand from talking with legislators this week that the legislature envisions rolling the $5.3 billion of ARPA money out in phases, recognizing there is ongoing uncertainty as the pandemic continues and they may need funds for critical needs. We have worked with our partners at UCANE and MWWA to have two amendments filed to address our concerns that there isn't enough focus on water/wastewater in this proposal.
Action Requested on 10/28: Debate on the ARPA spending bill will begin Thursday, 10/28. We urge you to be in touch with your State Representative preferably Thursday (10/28/21) in the morning, and ask them to support several amendments. To find your State Representative click here: https://malegislature.gov/search/findmylegislator
When you send them an email or call their office, explain to your State Representative that the need to invest in water and wastewater infrastructure is great and give examples of projects you may know about. Ask them to please support these amendments:
Amendment #893 – Amendment Relative to Additional Water Infrastructure Funding – Filed by Representative Sean Garballey would allocate an additional $50 million to line-item 1599-2032
Amendment #991 - Increasing Access to Water Infrastructure Funding – Filed by Representative Carolyn Dykema directs the Clean Water Trust to hold a public meeting of stakeholders and develop policy recommendations for increasing municipal utilization of the State Revolving Fund water programs and submit its recommendations to the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Governor and publish its recommendations online in a publicly-accessible format no later than January 15, 2022
While not filed by ACEC/MA and our partners, we note that support should also be offered for Amendment #525 which would increase funding for climate resilience.
While the priority is contacting your State Representative, It’s also not too early to have a conversation with your State Senator and ask them to propose, at minimum, environmental funding at the same levels the Governor recommended, as the Senate is currently developing their proposal.
Additional Background: State Representatives filed over 1100 amendments to this bill by yesterday’s 3 pm deadline. You can view them here: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4219/Amendments/House
ACTION REQUESTED before 10/28/21:
Please go to: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
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Sample email to your State Representative; please read carefully and modify!: Rep. ___________ RE: Support for several important amendments to H. 4219 related to water infrastructure Dear Representative ____________, We appreciate the House has included water and wastewater infrastructure funding in its proposal for spending the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. We wish that the funding level for water infrastructure matched the $400 million proposed by Governor Baker; therefore, we would like to express support for several amendments that have been filed to H. 4219 which seek to modestly increase the funding. I’m writing today as a (Professional Engineer, Professional Land Surveyor, etc) who lives in your district, in support of these amendments to H. 4219: Amendment #893 – Amendment Relative to Additional Water Infrastructure Funding – Filed by Representative Sean Garballey would allocate an additional $50 million to line-item 1599-2032 Amendment #991 - Increasing Access to Water Infrastructure Funding – Filed by Representative Carolyn Dykema directs the Clean Water Trust to hold a public meeting of stakeholders and develop policy recommendations for increasing municipal utilization of the State Revolving Fund water programs and submit its recommendations to the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Governor and publish its recommendations online in a publicly-accessible format no later than January 15, 2022 Amendment #525 - Environmental Infrastructure Funding Increase - Filed by Representative Carolyn Dykema would allocate an additional $50 million to line item 1599-2031 for climate resilience My firm is a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts, the business association of engineering, land surveying and A/E firms in Massachusetts which enthusiastically supports these amendments. (OR I am a member of (ACEC/MA, BSCES, MALSCE) which enthusiastically supports these amendments. Sincerely Your name, Your address (home as a voter) Daytime email and tel |
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