Federal Legislation

VRWA tracks legislation that affects the water-wastewater industry. Below are pending or recently passed bills in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives that may be of interest to our members.

Help us shape VRWA's message to legislators by sending us your comments on these bills. We also encourage you to contact your legislators directly.

For the full text of these bills and the most recent updates available, visit Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet from the Library of Congress.

Last updated: 2/27/11

H.R.66
Waste-to-Energy Technology Act of 2011

Status in House: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: Lloyd Doggett; cosponsors: Earl Blumenauer, Rush D. Holt, John Lewis
Description: Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for an investment tax credit for waste-to-energy facilities.

H.R.80
Global Water Access and Equity Act

Status in House: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: Sheila Jackson Lee; cosponsors: none
Description: Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish within the Department of State a Coordinator of United States Government Diplomatic Initiatives to Provide Safe Water and Sanitation Globally.

H.R.97
Free Industry Act

Status in House: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: Marsha Blackburn; cosponsors: 121
Description: Amends the Clean Air Act to: (1) exclude from the definition of the term "air pollutant" carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, or sulfur hexafluoride; and (2) declare that nothing in the Act shall be treated as authorizing or requiring the regulation of climate change or global warming.

H.R.254
Sewage Sludge in Food Production Consumer Notification Act

Status in House: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: Jose E. Serrano; cosponsors: none
Description: Amends the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the egg, meat, and poultry inspection laws to ensure that consumers receive notification regarding food products produced from crops, livestock, or poultry raised on land on which sewage sludge was applied.

H.R.395
Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2011

Status in House: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: Jerry McNerney; cosponsors: none
Description: Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to authorize appropriations for the pilot program for alternative water source projects. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in making grants under the program, to consider whether a project is located in an area which is served by a public water system serving 10,000 individuals or fewer.

H.R.457
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to remove the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to disapprove after a permit has been issued by the Secretary of the Army under section 404 of such Act.

Status in House: Referred to the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: David B. McKinley; cosponsors: 9
Description: Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to remove the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to disapprove after a permit has been issued by the Secretary of the Army under section 404 of such Act.

H.R.517
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to eliminate the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to deny or restrict the use of a defined area as a dredged or fill material disposal site, and for other purposes.

Status in House: Referred to the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: Don Young; cosponsors: 11
Description: Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to repeal the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prohibit the specification of, or to deny or restrict the use of, a defined area as a disposal site for the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters.

H.R.553
Endocrine Disruptor Screening Enhancement Act of 2011

Status in House: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy.
Status in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: Edward J. Markey; cosponsors: Raul M. Grijalva, James P. Moran, Eleanor Holmes Norton
Description: Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to repeal the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prohibit the specification of, or to deny or restrict the use of, a defined area as a disposal site for the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters.

S.4
Make America the World's Leader in Clean Energy Act

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Main Sponsor: Harry Reid; cosponsors: 11
Description: Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should make America the world's leader in clean energy including reduce harmful energy-related air, land, and water pollution.

S.77
Pollution and Costs Reduction Act

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Main Sponsor: Barbara Boxer; cosponsor: Benjamin L. Cardin
Description: Amends the Clean Air Act to reduce pollution and lower costs for building owners, including increased water-use efficiency.

S.78
Protecting Pregnant Women and Children From Perchlorate Act of 2011

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Main Sponsor: Barbara Boxer; cosponsors: none
Description: Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect the health of pregnant women, fetuses, infants, and children by requiring a health advisory and drinking water standard for perchlorate.

S.79
Protecting Pregnant Women and Children From Hexavalent Chromium Act of 2011

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Main Sponsor: Barbara Boxer; cosponsor: Dianne Feinstein
Description: Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect the health of vulnerable individuals, including pregnant women, infants, and children, by requiring a health advisory and drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium.

S.272
EPA Fair Play Act

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Main Sponsor: Joe Manchin III; cosponsors: 8
Description: Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act regarding an endocrine disruptor screening program.

S.350
Environmental Crimes Enforcement Act of 2011

Status in House: none
Status in Senate: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Main Sponsor: Patrick J. Leahy; cosponsors: Dianne Feinstein, Al Franken, Robert Menendez, Jack Reed, Bernard Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse
Description: A bill to require restitution for victims of criminal violations of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and for other purposes.

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