Water Efficiency in the New 115 th Congress

Transcription

1 Water Efficiency in the New 115 th Congress January 25, 2017 Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 1

2 Welcome Webinar will be 60 minutes in length with time for questions. Audio is through your telephone or computer microphone & speakers. The webinar phone line will be muted during the presentation because we are recording. Questions can be typed in throughout the webinar and will be answered at the end by the speakers Copyright AWE. All Rights Reserved Our goals today AWE s mission is to promote the efficient and sustainable use of water Advocacy for water efficiency is one of AWE s core activities in fulfilling that mission This webinar will explore water efficiency advocacy issues: what our history has been, what may happen over the next two years. and how you can help Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 2

3 Speakers Mary Ann Dickinson President and CEO Alliance for Water Efficiency Gene Goldenberg Legislative Director Alliance for Water Efficiency Background for our advocacy Plumbing Product standards in 1992 Federal Energy Policy Act (EPAct) Stakeholder advocacy for creating a water product labeling program Launch of WaterSense in June, 2006 Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 3

4 AWE s advocacy role To maintain a collaborative network for water efficiency advocacy To provide assistance and guidance to congressional committees To enlist members and stakeholders in support of key legislation To track key issues in Congress with a Legislative Watch Page To keep our members up to date on important water efficiency issues x A typical support letter... bob Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 4

5 What happened in the last Congress? WaterSense authorization Passed House and Senate but dropped by conference committees or ran out of time in lame duck session Tax-free treatment of water conservation rebates Bipartisan bill introduced, but the House Ways and Means Committee took no action Lawmakers urged Treasury to take administrative action, but Treasury and IRS said Congress must act Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 5

6 Water legislation enacted WIIN (Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation) S 612, became Public Law Includes Water Resources Development Act Authorizes projects to restore watersheds, improve waterways and flood control, and improve drinking water Funding for WIFIA (Water Infrastructure Funding and Innovation Act), that provides up to $1 billion in longterm, low-cost loans for water infrastructure projects Revolving loans for innovative water technologies Water legislation enacted Energy Efficiency Improvement Act S 535, became Public Law Requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to encourage water and energy efficiency in commercial leases Directs the GSA to conduct research and develop best practices to improve water efficiency in commercial buildings Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 6

7 Continuing priorities & strategies Water efficiency and jobs An issue that fits neatly with President Trump s agenda WaterSense authorization Supported by large U.S. manufacturers Tax-free water conservation rebates Vital to encouraging consumer water-conservation efforts Water/energy nexus research Saving water saves energy and vice versa Water efficiency and jobs Job creation is #1 for President Trump AWE study found that $10 billion of federal water efficiency investment creates 150, ,000 new jobs An economic benefit multiplier to the nation of Posted at: ww.a4we.org Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 7

8 WaterSense authorization Program initiated in 2006 at the discretion of the EPA Administrator Launched in a Republican administration, supported in a Democrat administration Voluntary program strongly supported by industry, including U.S.-based manufacturers Advocacy partners: PMI, IAPMO, Kohler Tax-free conservation rebates Water conservation rebates are subject to federal income taxes Energy efficiency rebates have been tax-exempt since the 1990 s under Section 136 of the tax code 1099s must be sent by water utilities if consumer receives $600 or more in a calendar year Powerful disincentive to participate in vital water conservation/storm water management programs Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 8

9 Tax-free conservation rebates Legislation introduced in 114 th Congress along with congressional petitions to the administration Coalition formed to work the issue (AWE is participating along with the Western Urban Water Coalition and WaterNow Alliance) Resolutions are needed! x bob Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 9

10 Resolutions adopted to date Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AZ) Contra Costa Water District (CA) Plumbing Manufacturers International (IL) Regional Water Authority (CA) Texas Water Foundation (TX) We need yours! Water-Energy nexus Saving water saves energy, and saving energy saves water Water efficiency should be treated on a parity with energy efficiency for policy and funding Energy efficiency is funded by federal and state incentives; water efficiency comes out of water ratepayer revenues AWE Congressional testimony Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 10

11 The politics of water efficiency Water efficiency is a non-partisan issue It s not mandated...people, organizations and businesses support it because it makes sense The business case is compelling...saving water saves money, now and in the future Infrastructure spending for water efficiency creates jobs in both the public and private sectors Implementing new technologies and efficient products creates jobs The shape of the 115 th Congress House: 241 Republicans, 194 Democrats Speaker: Paul Ryan, R-WI Majority Leader: Kevin McCarthy, R-CA Minority Leader: Nancy Pelosi, D-CA Senate: 52 Republicans, 46 Democrats, 2 Independents (effectively a split) Majority Leader: Mitch McConnell, R-KY Minority Leader: Chuck Schumer, D-NY Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 11

12 The shape of the 115 th Congress House committees of interest Ways and Means all tax bills originate in this committee Chairman: Kevin Brady, R-TX Energy and Commerce clean air and water Chairman: Greg Walden, R-OR Environment Subcommittee: John Shimkus, R-IL Senate committees of interest Energy and Natural Resources water/energy nexus Chairman: Lisa Murkowski, R-AK Environment and Public Works clean air and water Chairman: John Barrasso, R-WY The shape of the 115 th Congress States of interest... Texas contains the largest state Republican delegation and a Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady Oklahoma contains a solidly Republican House and Senate delegation and close ties to Scott Pruitt, the state attorney general and soon-to-be EPA administrator Wisconsin and Michigan are special to President Trump and home to Speaker Ryan Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 12

13 Bills filed so far in the 115 th Congress Still very early in the session. Only a handful of bills have been introduced to date. Of interest with regard to water efficiency: HR 301: NIST Plumbing Research Act of 2017 To promote research on premise plumbing efficiency at the National Institute of Standards and Technology HR 306: Energy Efficient Government Technology Act To promote energy and water efficiency in government data centers Passed the House and sent to the Senate HR 448: Water Conservation Tax Parity Act To amend the federal tax code to make water conservation tax rebates free of income taxes Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 13

14 What YOU can do? Let us know if you have a good connection to your senator or House member We are particularly interested in Republicans on the committees of interest in the House and Senate Get your board to support a resolution on tax-free water conservation rebates we have a template posted at Can we succeed? Yes, if we can successfully show the diversity of support for water efficiency Support from business interests will be crucial in the Trump administration...get your CEO involved Water Efficiency is a local issue, with local influence Your connections to your elected representatives will help us make all the difference Remember that states continue to act on their own (e.g. TX, GA, CA, CO with WaterSense standards) Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 14

15 In closing Many thanks for joining us! Have any questions? Type them in and we will answer them now A PDF of the presentation as well as a link to the recorded webinar will be available within a few days Our next webinar will be February 16 at 11:00 central on AWE s new report on Graywater Systems Stay tuned! Thank You for attending the webinar! Water Efficiency in the New 115th Congress 15