U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure/Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment: March 9th Hearing Addressing Water Infrastructure

The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (“Subcommittee”) will hold a March 9th hearing entitled:

Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: The Role of Federal Agencies in Water Infrastructure

A Subcommittee “background” memorandum previewing the hearing describes the role of two federal administrative agencies (United States Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency) and the National Environmental Policy Act. The document also addresses agencies’ utilization of regulations to implement the requirements of the federal statutes under their jurisdiction.

The hearing is characterized as providing Subcommittee members an opportunity to review solutions and opportunities regarding the nation’s water infrastructure to:

1. reduce inefficiencies and delays in project delivery,

2. include affordability considerations in the rulemaking process,

3. enhance state and local roles, and public participation,

4. use better data and better technology,

5. maximize benefits from existing resources, and

6. provide certainty for non-federal interests.

Witnesses that will testify include:

• Jerry Ellig, Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center at George Mason University

• Gary McCarthy, Mayor, City of Schenectady, New York, On Behalf of The U.S. Conference of Mayors

• John Linc Stine, Commissioner, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, On Behalf of the Environmental Council of the States

• Mike Inamine, Executive Director, Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency, California

• Jonathan Kernion, President, Cycle Construction Company, Kenner, Louisiana, On Behalf of the Associated General Contractors

• Kathy L. Pape, Senior Vice President, American Waterworks Company On Behalf of The Bipartisan Policy Center

• Kevin DeGood, Director of Infrastructure Policy, Center for American Progress

United States Congressman Rick Crawford from Arkansas’s First District serves as the Second Ranking Majority Member on the Subcommittee.

A copy of the Subcommittee background memorandum can be downloaded here.