Each December, NASSCO members come together via the NASSCO D.C. Fly-In to share information about our aging underground infrastructure and convey to government leaders the need to include funding for water and wastewater systems in infrastructure budgets. 

During last year’s Fly-In, NASSCO members from 15 different states conducted a total of 29 meetings with state senators, members of congress and staff. One of those meetings was with U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Indiana) whose staff followed-up to coordinate a field visit so Braun could learn firsthand more about the important work NASSCO members do and how the federal government can support underground water infrastructure.

On February 18, 2022, Braun visited the installation of more than 300 feet of 12-inch cured-in-place pipe by Granite Inliner (now Inliner Solutions) on a project funded by the city of Jasper, Indiana, as part of the city’s yearly sewer collections system rehabilitation budget. 

Jasper is Braun’s hometown, so as a ratepayer and beneficiary of the system repairs, he received a firsthand tutorial on cured-in-place pipe and how it saves communities money, time, protects the environment and proactively prevents collections system failures. Braun also is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which later this year will be passing the bill that funds the U.S. EPA’s Fiscal Year 2023 annual budget.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included more than $32 billion over the next five years in new federal grant and loan programs that will help communities repair their aging wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. This includes several grant programs that will directly benefit NASSCO members, such as the Connection to POTWs grants and the Sewer Overflow & Stormwater Reuse municipal grant program, both of which NASSCO lobbied to create.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Braun will be instrumental in passing the appropriations bill that will fund much of that $32 billion. Having him see firsthand how those funds will be spent is a huge benefit for the underground water infrastructure sector. A special thanks to the Inliner Solutions team for hosting Braun, particularly Tyson Crandall (district manager), Eric Haenlein, (director of engineering), Mike Green (business development), Brad Andry, (operations manager) and Wayne Alexander (superintendent).

You too can help make sure members of congress support this increased funding for wastewater and stormwater collections infrastructure. Text the word “PIPE” to 25994 to receive a link to NASSCO’s Sewer System Heroes website where you can send letters to your U.S. senators and representatives urging them to fully fund federal grant and loan programs that support local water infrastructure investments. It’s easy, quick and will make a huge difference for the underground water infrastructure sector. 

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