Wilson Votes to Pass the Water Quality Protection and Job Creating Act of 2021

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Frederica Wilson voted today to pass H.R. 1915, the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation that would authorize $50 billion in direct infrastructure investment over the next five years to address the nation's crumbling wastewater infrastructure and local water quality challenges. H.R. 1915 will soon advance to the House floor.

The legislation includes two amendments offered by Congresswoman Wilson to provide a set-aside of funding for low-income and underserved communities to fund water resiliency projects and funding for the Municipal Ombudsman to provide technical assistance to help these communities successfully execute water and wastewater projects.

The Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act would drastically increase the amount of federal assistance made available to states and municipalities through the newly reauthorized Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program, which is the primary source of federal aid for wastewater infrastructure construction.

'As the representative of a district on the frontline of climate change, I am grateful for the additional funding to address green infrastructure, wastewater, and septic projects to mitigate flooding the impact climate events and to repair the district's infrastructure,' said Congresswoman Wilson. 'For far too long, communities in South Florida have struggled with the impact of constant flooding due to increased sea level rise. As South Florida faces a $4 billion price tag to replace septic systems, I am proud of the inclusion of grant funding to help low-income households install, repair, and replace their septic tanks.'

Among its key provisions, the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021 would:

• Authorize $40 billion over five years in wastewater infrastructure investment through the Clean Water SRF
• Provide $2 billion for projects to capture, treat, or reuse sewer overflows or stormwater
• Provide $2.5 billion in grants for states to implement water pollution control programs
• Include $1 billion for clean water pilot programs for watershed-based efforts and climate resiliency
• Authorize $1 billion for alternative water source and water recycling projects to augment existing water supplies
• Designate $1 billion in municipal grants to treat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants