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APWA Washington Report
March 22, 2021
**Please note the next edition of APWA’s Washington Report will be sent out on April 12, 2021. In the meantime, follow APWA Government Affairs on Twitter
@APWAGOVAFFAIRS
and check out
‘Advocacy News’
to stay apprised of Government Affairs news.
Explore APWA’s Member Advocacy Tools:
APWA 117th Congress Public Policy Priorities
APWA Washington Report
Contact Congress
Tell Your Story
Public Works Research
InfoNow Communities
“What is Public Works?”
LATEST NEWS
House Introduces Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill
Last week, members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced the
Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021
;
The legislation will authorize $50 billion in federal funding over five years for wastewater projects and local water quality challenges;
The legislation was introduced by Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Subcommittee Chair Grace Napolitano (D-CA), and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA);
The legislation reauthorizes the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program and increases funding to $8 billion annually through 2026;
The bill also includes $1 billion over five years to help communities deal with treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other new contaminants;
APWA issued a letter of support for the legislation and is committed to working with House leadership to see the bill passed;
You can read a
fact sheet
and
section by section
of the bill on the Committee website.
Senate Committee Approves PFAS Protection Bill
Last week, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) approved the
Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances Act
;
The bill is designed to protect firefighters from Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and reduce their release into the environment;
The bipartisan bill was led by HSGAC Chair Gary Peters (D-MI);
The legislation directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop guidance within 180 days pertaining to the use of PFAS in firefighting;
FEMA must work with the U.S. Fire Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;
PFAS are known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their longevity in the environment, contaminating land and water;
Studies have linked exposure to PFAS to increased risk of several types of cancer, as well as multiple other health issues.
APWA Board of Directors Holds Virtual Congressional Meetings
APWA’s Board of Directors will be continuing virtual meetings with their respective Members of Congress through March 31;
The 17 members of the Board will be meeting to update their Senators and Representatives on APWA policy as well as those issues specific to their state and congressional districts;
Please follow
@APWAGOVAFFAIRS
on Twitter for updates on the meetings.
APWA to Host Panel with Congressional Staff
March 29 at 11:00 a.m. ET, as part of PWX@Home, APWA is inviting all members to a virtual event featuring congressional staff;
These staffers work for members of Congress and committees with jurisdiction over APWA’s
Public Policy Priorities
;
The staffers will provide an insider’s perspective on how APWA members can best engage in their advocacy efforts;
If you would like to attend, please email Michael Altman at
maltman@apwa.net
to RSVP and receive a webinar link.
Deb Haaland Sworn-in as DOI Secretary
Last week, Deb Haaland was sworn-in as Secretary for the Department of Interior (DOI);
Most recently Secretary Haaland served as U.S. Representative for New Mexico’s First Congressional District.
Isabel Guzman Sworn-in as SBA Administrator
Last week, Isabel Guzman was sworn-in as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA);
Most recently Ms. Guzman served as the Director of California’s Small Business Advocate;
She also previously served as the Deputy Administrator for the SBA during the Obama Administration;
The SBA, oversees several disaster loan and assistance programs for small businesses;
More information on the types of assistance available through the SBA can be found
here
.
Senate to Vote on Marty Walsh for DOL Secretary
March 22 at approximately 5:30 p.m. the full Senate is expected to vote on the confirmation of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to head the Department of Labor (DOL);
DOL operates a wide range of job training programs that are key to maintaining a skilled workforce;
Mayor Walsh is expected to easily be confirmed in what will likely be a bipartisan vote;
For more information on Mayor Walsh, please see our
Advocacy News item on his confirmation hearings
.
FHWA Hosting Webinars on MUTCD –Comments Due May 14, 2021
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is hosting webinars on March 18, March 25, and April 1, related to the pending update of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for Streets & Highways;
This is the first update in 10-years, and the Agency is seeking input and taking comments until
May 14, 2021
on its released proposed changes;
Participation in the webinars is limited, but FHWA is recording the sessions and releasing the recordings shortly after each session—
the March 18 webinar recording is now available;
Additional information on the webinars is
here
and the full Notice of Proposed Amendments may be found
here
.
White House Environmental Justice Council to Meet in March
Last week, The White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) has announced a virtual meeting to be held on March 30;
The WHEJAC Charter states that it will provide independent advice and recommendations to the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and to the White House Interagency Council on Environmental Justice (Interagency Council);
WHEJAC is tasked with advising how to increase the Federal Government’s efforts to address current and historic environmental justice;
You can learn more about the meeting and register to attend
here
.
EPA Environmental Financial Advisory Board to Meet in April
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB) will meet virtually on April 20 and 21;
EFAB is an EPA advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act;
EFAB exists to provide advice and recommendations to EPA on creative approaches to funding environmental programs, projects, and activities;
The meeting will be held to allow for EFAB workgroup updates to be provided to the EFAB Board members;
You can register for the event
here
, and learn more about EFAB
here
.
FEMA Releases 18 Public Works Resource Typing Documents
Last week the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released 18 revised
Public Works Resource Typing Documents
;
Resource typing documents provide a key component of the
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
;
Additionally, this process streamlines the ability of organizations from across the country to work together during incidents of all types and sizes.
FEMA Provides Update on Fiscal Year 2020 FMA and BRIC Grants
Last week FEMA provided an update on the Fiscal Year 2020
Flood Mitigation Assistance
(FMA) and
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
(BRIC) grant programs;
The program application period deadline for both grant programs was January 29, with the selection process for determining awardees beginning earlier this month;
For the Fiscal Year 2020 grant application cycle, FEMA received nearly $3.6 billion in applications for the BRIC grant program and nearly $400 million for the FMA grant program;
A total of $700 million is available for the two grant programs;
FEMA is currently preparing the Fiscal Year 2021 grant cycle;
For additional details on this process– click
here
.
FAA Final Rules on Drones to be Released Next Month
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to release two final rules on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drone usage next month;
The Operations Over People Rule
applies to pilots who fly under
Part 107
of the Federal Aviation Regulations;
This rule seeks to clarify drone usage conducted above people and over moving vehicles, as it currently varies depending on the level of risk a small drone operation presents to people on the ground;
The Remote Identification Rule
(
Remote ID
),
requires identification of drones in flight as well as providing the location of their control stations or takeoff point;
For additional information on the rules – click
here
.
NOAA Hosts Listening Sessions
Beginning this week the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will host a series of listening sessions related to an Executive Order (EO) on “
Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad
”, which was issued on January 27, 2021;
The listening sessions are being held to assist NOAA in obtaining written input from interested parties on how best to achieve the objectives described in the Executive Order, under Section 216 (C), for additional details on the listening sessions – click
here
.
ON THE HORIZON
March 22 at 11:00 am ET, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing titled,
“LIFT America: Revitalizing Our Nation’s Infrastructure and Economy”
.
March 23 at 11:00 am ET, the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment has scheduled a hearing titled,
“The Water Resources Development Act of 2020: Status of Essential Provisions”
.
March 24 at 10:00 am ET, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation is scheduled to hold
an executive session to consider the nomination of Polly Trottenberg to serve as Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Dept. of Transportation
.
March 24 at 10:00 am ET, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has scheduled a
business meeting to discuss the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure act of 2021
.
March 24 at 10:00 am ET, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has scheduled a hearing titled,
“Driving the Road to Recovery: Rebuilding America’s Transportation Infrastructure”
.
March 24 at 10:00 am ET, the Senate Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight has scheduled a hearing titled,
“Preparing for Future Crises: Examining the National Response Enterprise”
.
March 24 at 1:00pm ET, the FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination will host a learning session on the importance of including people with developmental disabilities in emergency preparedness, response and recovery planning efforts -
pre-registration is required
.
March 24 at 2:00 pm ET, the House Subcommittee on Energy has scheduled a hearing titled,
“The CLEAN Future Act: Powering a Resilient and Prosperous America”
.
March 24at 2:00 pm ET, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing titled,
“Remediation and Impact of PFAS”
.
March 24 at 2:30 pm ET, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee has scheduled a hearing titled,
“Build Back Better: Water Infrastructure Needs for Native Communities”
.
March 25 at 10:15 am ET, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has scheduled
a hearing to discuss the nomination of Deanne B. Criswell to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
.
March 25 at 11:00 am ET, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has scheduled a hearing titled,
“The Administration’s Priorities for Transportation Infrastructure”
.
March 25 at 1:00pm ET, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy has scheduled a hearing titled,
“Building Technologies Research for a Sustainable Future”
.
March 25 at 2:30 pm ET, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing titled,
“Creating Equitable Communities through Transportation and Housing”
.
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