Bennet Provision to Invest in Water Infrastructure in Rural Communities Passes Senate

Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed S. 914, the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, which includes a provision from his RESILIENT Act to require outreach to rural communities on water infrastructure financing and funding options. The bill now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Rural communities across the nation face many of the same challenges as larger communities, but often with fewer staff and resources,” said Bennet. “This provision will help ensure that local leaders have information on federal funding and financing options, so they can pursue the water infrastructure projects that fit their needs.”

Bennet’s provision will require the Environmental Protection Agency to work with other relevant federal agencies to develop and implement a plan to do outreach to rural communities on water infrastructure financing opportunities. This outreach will connect local leaders with funding sources so they can make much-needed updates to their water infrastructure.

Since 2018, Bennet has held meetings with state water infrastructure experts, Colorado county staff, town clerks, and city managers, regional economic development experts on the West Slope, and Councils of Governments to hear directly from Coloradans about their challenges with rural water infrastructure. The RESILIENT Act was drafted with this feedback in mind, seeking to make it easier for rural communities to invest in their infrastructure.