Coalition in Support of FY27 Water Infrastructure Funding

Dear Chairs Murkowski and Simpson, Ranking Members Merkley and Pingree:

The undersigned organizations write in support of meaningful funding for water infrastructure priorities and programs as you advance the Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations legislation.

Water is integral to sectors across the economy, including energy, food, health, manufacturing, and technology. Economic growth and competitiveness depend on ensuring sufficient supplies of water, fit for purpose for our companies and for the communities where we operate, protecting their quality of life. As water demands grow, reliable water service and smart, modern, resilient infrastructure are even more important.

As you develop the FY27 bill, we respectfully recommend:

• Sustain and strengthen core water infrastructure funding and financing tools. Provide continued and sufficient funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) to help communities modernize systems, plan projects, and deliver upgrades efficiently.
• Effectively address emerging contaminants and lead. Support authorized funding levels to address legacy PFAS contamination, lead in schools, and lead service line replacement efforts (including programs such as Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Grants) to protect public health and provide greater certainty for communities and water systems.
• Invest in resilience and system security. Increase support for water and wastewater system cybersecurity and resilience, including preparedness measures that help communities and employers reduce disruptions and recover quickly when disasters occur.
• Support water reuse, efficiency, conservation, and innovation. Fund efforts that accelerate adoption of emerging solutions, including support for the Water Reuse Interagency Working Group, the WaterSense program, and other initiatives that help integrate approaches to public and industrial water recycling and digital infrastructure.
• Expand access for small and disadvantaged communities. Ensure resources for technical assistance and tools that help small, rural, disadvantaged, and underserved communities access infrastructure funding, including support for the Border Water Infrastructure Program, household-level solutions where appropriate (e.g., point-of-use/point-of-entry water filtration systems), and water affordability assistance pilots.
• Maintain water infrastructure financing flexibility. Strengthen local financing capacity by increasing community tools for water infrastructure funding and financing, including by raising the cap on private activity bonds and maintaining the tax-exempt status for municipal bonds.

Thank you for your leadership and consideration of these priorities. We stand ready to work with you and your staff as you advance FY27 Interior and Environment appropriations.

Sincerely,

American Chemistry Council
American Council of Engineering Companies
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Water Works Association
Association of Clean Water Administrators
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
Association of State Drinking Water Administrators
BuildStrong America
Clean Water Construction Coalition
Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities
National Association of Clean Water Agencies
National Association of Counties
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Water Companies
National League of Cities
National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association
Rural Community Action Partnership
The Nature Conservancy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Water Alliance
U.S. Water Partnership
Water Environment Federation
WateReuse Association
Water Quality Association
Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association