NACWA sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan on Feb. 24 outlining funding priorities from the municipal clean water sector for the Biden Administration’s upcoming Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget request to Congress. This letter builds on NACWA’s annual advocacy to the White House and Congress as funding levels are being set each year.

NACWA emphasizes in the letter that the recent influx of infrastructure funding from the bipartisan infrastructure bill was intended to supplement, not supplant, annual funding for water and urges strong investment across all water programs. The letter also urges strong funding for certain programs that were authorized but not immediately funded in the infrastructure bill – these include funding through U.S. EPA for Low-Income Water Customer Assistance, the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Grant program, and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

It is not yet clear when the Administration will issue its formal FY23 budget request to Congress. President Biden is scheduled to address Congress for the annual State of the Union speech on March 1, and the budget release is typically timed to happen shortly thereafter. After the President's budget proposal is released, attention will shift to Congress to develop its annual spending legislation in response.

NACWA encourages members to share this letter with their respective Senators and Representatives, as well as advocate around the impact funding for these important programs can have on your local utility and community.

Please contact NACWA's legislative team with any questions or to discuss further.