As reported last week, H.R. 1, the House Republican’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tax reform bill, maintained the tax-exempt status on municipal bonds but repealed the ability for advance refunding.

Echoing NACWA’s advocacy on affordability issues over the past decade, a new report from the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) recommends major changes to EPA’s procedure for evaluating ratepayer affordability and utility financial capability.

NACWA and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) filed an amicus brief on November 13 to support DC’s Nonwoven Disposable Products Act of 2016, the first law in the US to address the problems caused by flushable and non-flushable wipes.

NACWA is pleased to welcome Jason Isakovic to its staff this week, as the Association’s second Director of Legislative Affairs.

NACWA took part in a meeting, hosted by EPA on November 8, with intergovernmental partners that focused on two key water priorities for the Agency.

NACWA provided input to EPA this week on the registration reviews of indoxacarb, a pesticide used in pet flea control products.

Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives released their comprehensive tax reform bill on November 2, kicking off what Congressional Republicans and the White House hope will be a focused effort to pass tax reform legislation by the end of the year.

NACWA expressed its support for elements of EPA’s draft Strategic Plan for 2018-2022 in comments filed October 31.

NACWA and a coalition of other water sector groups that have been developing shared recommendations for water infrastructure participated in a Congressional Roundtable last week to discuss ideas for advancing infrastructure investment.

Leaders from several NACWA member utilities and corporate affiliates, as well as representatives from EPA and the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation, were among the stakeholders joining colleagues from around the world last week in Toronto for World Water-Tech North America.

NACWA participated in the second annual Mid Atlantic Utility Conference -- held in Baltimore, MD, on November 2-3 -- to help foster discussion of how state and regional issues should influence the Association’s national advocacy.

NACWA participated in the second annual Mid Atlantic Utility Conference -- held in Baltimore, MD, on November 2-3 -- to help foster discussion of how state and regional issues should influence the Association’s national advocacy.

In the wake of Flint and extreme stormwater events, environmental justice has become even more relevant in the clean water sector, and many NACWA members are promoting an expanded definition of environmental justice. The Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) is now working on several projects that not only reduce hazards from CSO’s and flooding, but also provide community benefits.