NUCA Washington Summit Delivers Strong Water Infrastructure Message To Congress

The chairman and the chief executive officer of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) issued the following statements during the nation’s utility construction industry annual legislative advocacy summit held this week in Washington, D.C.:

“Infrastructure is built on relationships. Our annual Washington Summit will focus on this industry’s current infrastructure issues, with our members traveling to Washington to give their voice reminding their House and Senate lawmakers water and wastewater issues are critical to their district and state’s economic health,” said Tony Privitera, NUCA Chairman of the Board and Executive Vice President of Mark One Electric Co., Inc., in Kansas City, Missouri.

“Our nation dodged the House’s catastrophic water infrastructure cuts in the FY2025 appropriations bill, and our member’s meetings with their state’s lawmakers will remind lawmakers that our industry delivers every day their constituent’s clean water to their homes and businesses. At this Summit, our members are going to urge their lawmakers to support essential utility workforce development programs, addressing the labor shortfall that continues to affect projects across the country. And our members will talk about lead-pipe replacement goals in their states. Congress needs to deliver the right resources to finish the job,” concluded Privitera.

“This Summit has a strong focus on convincing Congress to increase funding for water and wastewater infrastructure in fiscal year 2025 appropriations. We have a $625 billion need over the next 20 years to rebuild and improve our nation’s water and wastewater systems. That need will only be fulfilled if Congress starts this year providing additional resources to the EPA’s critical Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving funds. Cutting these funds, like was done last year, will be catastrophic. The rollout of funding for the historic 2021 infrastructure law is behind schedule, and projects aren’t moving forward quickly enough. Building a relationship with our member’s lawmakers at this Summit will have benefits to all Americans in the years ahead,” said Doug Carlson, NUCA Chief Executive Officer.