NUCA Statement On House EPA Appropriations Bill

The chief executive officer of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), Doug Carlson, issued the following statement on House passage of the FY2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, H.R. 4821:

“212 House Republicans and one House Democrat chose today to pass a catastrophically flawed piece of legislation that will devastate a critical building block used to support America’s civilization: the very human need for clean water.”

“Nothing is more fundamental for human life than safe, clean water. The Republican majority’s FY2024 Interior-Environment appropriations bill would catastrophically cut nearly $2 billion in annual funding from the EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, harming millions of Americans. Water systems all around the country are relying on that funding to move forward to serve their constituents, and cannot afford to ‘make do with less.’”

“Half of the EPA’s cuts made by Republicans were done on the back of these critical water infrastructure construction funds. As a result, projects of critical importance to communities all over the United States will not move forward as a direct consequence of this bill.”

“NUCA thanks the 200 House Democrats and three House Republicans who voted to send this bill back to the drawing board. House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) put it best: ‘…if you’re looking for a pretty bill, this is not it.’ NUCA emphatically disagrees that it is in any way necessary to cut federal funding for water infrastructure.”

“It is now up to the Senate to save America’s clean water resources. NUCA urges Congress to adopt the Senate’s version of this appropriations bill, which at least maintains these critical state revolving funds at current levels.”

“Our nation faces hundreds of billions of water and wastewater infrastructure repairs across the next 20 years. American community leaders cannot afford the cuts passed in today’s House bill—for the sake of public health and civilization, clean drinking water and safe wastewater management must be provided to its citizens. NUCA and our members are very disappointed that the House Majority could not reach that level of basic support for their constituents.” Tags: Infrastructure Funding