Senator Lautenberg: Senate Panel Passes Bill Giving New Jersey Greater Share of Water Funding

N.J. Sen. Fought for Federal Funds for Garden State; With New Formulas, N.J. would receive $109 million under Obama FY2010 Budget

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) last week announced the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved legislation to increase New Jersey’s share of funding for wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities.

The new formulas, coupled with increased funding under President Obama’s proposed FY2010 budget, would give New Jersey $109 million next year. That would represent an increase of $81 million in funds from last year.

“Our families deserve water that is clean and safe. These federal funds will help protect our drinking water, protect local bodies of water from pollution and sewage and help create new jobs across New Jersey,” Sen. Lautenberg said.

The Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF) are the main sources of federal funding for states to pay for building wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities. The revolving loan funds provide low-interest loans to states that help pay for infrastructure needed to keep raw sewage, toxic chemicals and other pollution out of lakes, rivers, streams and coastal waters. Working infrastructure to treat wastewater is essential to maintaining the nation’s water quality and has vital impacts on recreation, tourism and public health.

New Jersey has historically received a larger share than most states from the SRF and this measure would give the Garden State even more funding to provide low-interest loans to municipalities. New Jersey receives 4.13 percent of SRF funds under the current formula. This legislation would increase that number to 4.61 percent, an increase of 11 percent.

New Jersey would receive the fifth highest percentage of funding in the country under this new formula. If the increases in President Obama’s FY 2010 budget request are appropriated, New Jersey would receive $109 million in FY 2010 under these new formulas.

This bill would also expand the types of projects that are authorized for this funding. “Green infrastructure” projects, which use environmentally-friendly methods to treat water before pollutants get into ground water, would be eligible for funding. It also contained a provision authored by Sen. Lautenberg that would give $1.8 billion dollars to local governments to help stop dangerous sewer overflows.

The legislation is widely supported by environmental and labor groups, community organizations and companies that work on infrastructure projects.

Source: Senator Frank R. Lautenberg