President Trump and key members of Congress have made clear in recent days that passage of a comprehensive infrastructure package will be a top priority in 2018. The White House is planning to release a document outlining its “infrastructure principles” later this month, and Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chairman of the powerful House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, has announced his plans to retire from Congress at the end of this year and his commitment to focus his efforts for the remainder of his term on passing an infrastructure bill.

Just before closing out the 2017 calendar year, the 115th Congress and President Trump secured their first major legislative achievement by signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law on December 22.

NACWA met with Andrew Sawyers, Director of the Office of Wastewater Management, and key staff December 19, to discuss a range of issues including many that will top NACWA’s advocacy agenda in 2018.

A judge with the federal District of Columbia (DC) District Court granted a Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation to prohibit implementation of the District’s wipes labeling law, the Nonwoven Disposable Products Act of 2016.

David Ross officially began his tenure as EPA’s new Office of Water, Assistant Administrator on January 8, though his confirmation by the Senate took place in December of last year.

The final rule with public notification requirements for utilities discharging combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the Great Lakes and other bodies of water in the Great Lakes basin was published in the Federal Register on January 8.

NACWA provided detailed comments on an interim revised version of EPA’s NPDES Compliance Inspection Manual, highlighting several areas that need revision or an updating of information

he District of Columbia (DC) District Court heard oral arguments December 13 on the Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a leading manufacturer of wipes, seeking to prohibit implementation of the District of Columbia’s law on “flushable” wipes.

Federal tax reform continued its rapid advance last week, as Congressional negotiators “conferenced” the distinct House and Senate bills, which passed in each respective chamber.