Dear Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports H.R. 3862, the bipartisan Clean Water SRF Parity Act, which seeks to expand private sector and nonprofit eligibility for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF). This legislation is a critical step toward ensuring that all stakeholders, including private entities, can contribute to addressing the nation’s water infrastructure challenges. It levels the playing field with drinking water SRFs, for which the private sector has been eligible since 1996. The Chamber commends Reps. Rep. Bost [R-IL-12] and Garamendi [D-CA-8] for their leadership in advancing this issue.
The Clean Water SRF has been instrumental in funding water quality improvement projects across the country. However, the current restrictions on private sector eligibility limit the program’s potential to fully leverage private investment and innovation and preclude communities that utilize private operators from benefiting from the program. By allowing private entities to access SRF funding, H.R. 3862 would unlock new opportunities for public-private partnerships, drive technological advancements, and accelerate the implementation of critical water infrastructure projects.
Expanding private sector eligibility aligns with the Chamber’s long-standing commitment to fostering collaboration between public and private sectors to address infrastructure needs. Under H.R. 3862, assistance to private entities would be restricted to projects that primarily benefit users of the treatment works, not shareholders or owners. Importantly, and just as with SRF decision-making under current law, state agencies administering SRFs would be responsible under H.R. 3862 for determining whether a project meets this criterion and fits within the state’s objectives.
We urge Congress to act swiftly to pass the Clean Water SRF Parity Act and unlock the full potential of the Clean Water SRF program. The Chamber has made building smart, modern, resilient infrastructure among our top priorities. We stand ready to work with you and other stakeholders to advance this important legislation and ensure that our nation’s water infrastructure is equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue. Please do not hesitate to contact Chuck Chaitovitz, vice president, environmental affairs and sustainability at cchaitovitz@uschamber.com if you have any questions or require additional information.
Sincerely,
Marty Durbin
Senior Vice President, Policy
President, Global Energy Institute
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
