WEF-Backed Provisions Incorporated Into 2019 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

The omnibus appropriations bill, which sets a budget for government programs for the 2019 fiscal year, passed through U.S. Congress and was signed into law by President Donald Trump. The package includes appropriations for the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) supported many of the confirmed funding allocations.

The bill provides

• $1.7 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which is equal to the 2018 enacted level and $300 million above the president’s budget request;
• $1.2 billion for the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which is equal to the 2018 enacted level and $300 million above the president’s budget request;
• $68 million for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act grants, which is $5 million above the fiscal year 2018 enacted level and $48 million above the president’s budget request;
• $5 million for water research grants; and
• $500,000 for EPA to conduct the Clean Watershed Needs Survey.

For more information, read

• a division-by-division summary of the report;
• the full conference report; or
• more about the provisions supported by WEF in This Week in Washington.