The U.S. Senate today voted to pass the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021. The bill authorizes funds for replacing lead service lines, reauthorizes the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds, makes permanent the Buy America provision in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, starts a pilot program at the U.S. Environmental Protection agency for low-income water assistance, and authorizes funding for rural and disadvantaged communities. In response, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh:

“Lack of access to clean water in communities across the nation is a public health crisis of great magnitude. The investments made in this bill will help ensure that more and more families can turn on the tap with the confidence of knowing that their water is safe.

“That this bill was reported unanimously by the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is a testament to the fact that ensuring all Americans have access to clean water is, and should be, something we all can agree on. We look forward to continued bipartisan support for water infrastructure as Congress works to draft a comprehensive infrastructure package.”