House Bill Aims to Generate $50 Billion for Water Infrastructure Improvements

On January 21, Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-TN) and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) introduced the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act of 2015 which would lift the volume cap for private activity bonds (PAB) for water and sewage facilities. Reps. Duncan & Pascrell introduced this bill during the last Congress and have been cosponsors of the water PAB legislation since 2005. Lifting the cap on PAB’s for water infrastructure is estimated to leverage $50 billion in private capital investment and create 1.4 million jobs.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that $682 billion in infrastructure improvements are needed during the next 20 years in order to meet safe drinking water and sanitation standards. Many of these jobs will involve contracting with ready mixed concrete operations. NRMCA will continue to work with the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Coalition to help advance this important piece of legislation.