Words On Water #171: Impact of Coronavirus Relief Package on Water Sector

January 5, 2020

Steve Dye is Legislative Affairs Director for the Water Environment Federation and Jason Myers is a Partner with Barnes & Thornburg. In this episode Steve discusses how the recent coronavirus relief package passed by Congress impacts the water sector, including the $638 million it provides for a new program that will help low-income families cover the costs of their drinking water and wastewater utility bills, as well as $25 billion in rental assistance that can also be used to help offset utility payments. Jason talks about $275 billion for another round of Paycheck Protection Program funding and the extension of the deadline for using funding from the CARES Act. Steve also reviews the FY21 Omnibus Appropriations package that includes a myriad of key funding provisions for the Clean Water SRF, Drinking Water SRF, WIFIA, and stormwater and workforce programs.

Episode #171
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Words On Water #122: Steve Dye and Claudio Ternieden with a 2020 Congressional and Regulatory Preview

January 30, 2020

Steve Dye is the Legislative Director and Claudio Ternieden is the Senior Director of Government Affairs for the Water Environment Federation. In this episode Steve provides a preview of key issues for Congress in 2020 including reauthorization of the Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund and Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act, legislation addressing PFAS, and grants for SSO and CSO programs. Claudio discusses potential action on regulatory topics including Waters of the United States, affordability, and peak wet weather flow. They encourage attendance at Water Week in D.C. on April 27-28 and participation in the Water Advocates program.

Episode #122
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Words On Water #53: Mike Matichich on Making Progress on Affordability

September 17, 2018

Mike Matichich leads the financial services consulting team for Jacobs. In this episode, Mike explains how the increasing attention to affordability of water rates stems from the pinch created by necessary investments in infrastructure and rising costs for households. He says it is more important than ever for utilities to create customer assistance programs and to turn research on affordability into action. Mike also discusses how lessons can be learned at looking at state-by-state variability, approaches in public versus private water systems, and in how places like Australia, Canada, and Europe address affordability issues.

Episode #53
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Words On Water #34: Adam Krantz on Advocacy and Policy

May 21, 2018

Adam Krantz is the CEO of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. In this episode, Adam talks about the complementary roles of the various water associations, including NACWA. He also assesses the current political will by elected officials to act on water issues and discusses paying for clean water, advancing smarter regulations, promoting innovation, and modernizing the Clean Water Act.

Episode #34
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Words On Water #15: Representative Garret Graves on the Role of Congress in Water Infrastructure

December 18, 2017

Garret Graves is the U.S. Representative from Louisiana’s 6th congressional district and is a member of several key committees that deal with water policy. In this episode, Representative Graves discusses the prospects for an infrastructure package in 2018, formation of the bipartisan Congressional Infrastructure Caucus, need for renewed national investment in water infrastructure, and lessons learned about resilience in southern Louisiana.

Episode #15
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