Transportation

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Tell Congress not to cut clean water funding in the highway bill

The House and the Senate have passed their versions of the transportation bill, and a conference committee is now attempting to reconcile differences in the two bills. The Senate bill would give communities across America nearly $868 million over five years to manage flooding and pollution caused by runoff from roads and highways. But we have just learned that some conferees may try to reduce these funds, or cut them altogether.

Stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots and other paved surfaces is the largest source of water pollution today. It is increasingly the cause of beach closures and untreated sewage discharges, which happen when stormwater overwhelms sewer pipes and treatment plants. Communities are harmed most by stormwater pollution through flooding, infrastructure damage and higher sewage treatment and drinking water filtration costs, but currently receive no federal funds to help address these problems. The funds included in the Senate version of the transportation bill would help communities improve water quality and clean up rivers, lakes and streams across the country.

Please send a message urging your senators and representative to press members of the transportation bill conference committee to keep clean water funds in the final version of the bill.

You can email or fax your senators and representative directly from NRDC's Earth Action Center.

If you prefer to call your senators and representative, the Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

Please also forward this message to your friends and co-workers, and urge them to contact their senators and representative as well.

Thank you!