Support Funding for National Priorities Water Research

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) encourages members to urge their representatives in U.S. Congress to support funding for the National Priorities Water Research Program in the 2020 fiscal year.

In 2019, Congress appropriated $5 million to the National Priorities Water Research Program. This is the only source of federal funds that supports collaborative, extramural, cost-shared partnerships with organizations that address the water sector’s research needs. Congress also authorized a $10 million federal investment in the development, deployment, and demonstration of water technologies through the Innovative Water Technologies grant program.

The proposed budget for fiscal year 2020 would reduce funding for water sector programs, according to the This Week in Washington article, “President’s Budget Cuts EPA Funding by 31 Percent.” WEF joined other water sector organizations in sending a letter asking leaders in Congress to support funding for both programs.

Now, the WEF Water Advocates program encourages members to reach out to representatives in Congress to ask them to support these two programs in fiscal year 2020. Water sector professionals should ask their government officials to increase funding for the National Priorities Water Research grant program to $20 million and to fully fund the Innovative Water Technologies grant program at $10 million.