NECA Legislative Top Three 11/1/19: Water infrastructure Funding Gets Treats
1. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Holds Markup of H.R. 1497
On October 29 the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, chaired by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), held a legislative hearing to markup the NECA-supported $16.6 billion Bipartisan Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2019.
NECA’s Look Ahead: This legislation addresses the critical need to invest in our nation’s water infrastructure. The Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act addresses this by authorizing $14 billion in new Federal funding for the Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund (CWA SRF). NECA, as a member of the Water Infrastructure Network, strongly supported this important legislation.
2. House Education and Labor Committee Holds Markup of H.R. 4674
On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the House Education and Labor committee held a lengthy markup on H.R. 4674, the College Affordability Act. This legislation, amassing over 1,000 pages in length, focused on a wide range of regulations surrounding higher education. Buried in those pages were proposed new laws regulating the administration of the Federal Pell Grant program. These grants are open to students in trade schools as well as those in institutions of higher learning and are not subject to be repaid by the student or apprentice.
NECA’s Look Ahead: NECA urges its contractors to monitor these grants and their administration. They are a terrific source for funding education and pre-apprenticeship programs for those interested in joining the trades. As the conversation continues on Capitol Hill, NECA Government Affairs will urge lawmakers to apply strict oversight to these grant programs to ensure those receiving them are given proper training and safety protections throughout their courses.
3. NECA’s Long Island Chapter Takes the Lead in the Chairman’s Challenge
With only two months left in the year, the Long Island Chapter has taken the lead in the Chairman’s Challenge! Here is the current leaderboard:
- 1st Place: Long Island Chapter – 194 Points
- 2nd Place: Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter – 145 Points
- 3rd Place: Northern California Chapter – 83 Points