The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held its first hearing on reauthorizing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), and Senators indicated an interest in doing more than providing for traditional Corps of Engineers projects such as navigation and flood control.  

The recent drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan may result in more funding assistance to local governments, where new federal regulations on lead and copper control and aging infrastructure will increase the need for replacing water mains and pipes.  Senators discussed the possibility of reauthorizing the Safe Drinking Water Act, revising the State Revolving Fund for drinking water, and expanding a fledgling loan guarantee program to provide more financing options for local government.  Attempts to amend pending energy legislation in the Senate to provide aide to the City of Flint have stalled, leaving the water resources bill as a more likely legislative vehicle to assist local governments.  A similar hearing is scheduled in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee later this month, resulting in a WRDA bill in the coming months.