House Appoints WRRDA Conferees
The House has appointed 28 Representatives from the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (24) and the Natural Resources Committee (4) to meet with their eight Senate counterparts from the Environment & Public Works Committee to begin discussions on how to find a middle path between their respective versions of the Water Resources (and Reform) Development Act. Of particular interest to state drinking water programs is the Senate provision that creates a WIFIA-like pilot effort ($50 million each to the Corps and to EPA for each of five years to fund major water infrastructure projects). The House bill did not contain similar language but indications are strong that House conferees will be instructed to consider such an approach. No date has been set, as yet, for the first Conference Committee meeting.
