The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee (EPW) held field hearings last week in Delaware and West Virginia that focused on the challenges that small, rural and disadvantaged communities face in accessing and maintaining wastewater and drinking water treatment services.

The hearings (viewable here and here) were held in the home states of the EPW Committee’s Chairman, Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ranking Member, Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). Witnesses included leaders from rural systems and health and development councils in those states, and topics ranged from the needs for technical assistance to rural utilities, to infrastructure investment, to emerging contaminants and water affordability.

Notably, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, the Democratic lead for the bipartisan U.S. House bill NACWA strongly supports to establish a low-income water and wastewater customer assistance program at EPA, joined the Senate hearing as a guest witness to speak about her priorities and the need for a nationwide, permanent program to help customers afford their critical water services. NACWA applauds the continued leadership of these Members of Congress on our clean water issues and continued progress as infrastructure negotiations advance.

Contact Kristina Surfus, NACWA Managing Director of Government Affairs, to discuss.