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From the Executive Director
Building on Change
The election is behind us. Change is coming. Before us lies an opportunity for elevating environmental priorities as a part of the national domestic agenda. Now we must work to make the most of it.
President-elect Obama is expected to emphasize restoring public confidence in the federal government and reinvigorating its role in pressing issues at home, including environmental concerns. It is anticipated that he will move quickly to make key appointments and share a pro-environment legislative agenda. Already he has stated his first action after inauguration will be to work toward signing an economic stimulus package that key lawmakers say will include spending for long-needed clean water infrastructure projects.
The face of Congress has also changed dramatically, with Democrats expanding their majorities in the House and Senate. This improves the ability to move forward on clean water legislation. Prospects are brighter for the passage of long-worked-on initiatives in the areas of climate change, Clean Water Act jurisdiction, protection of beaches and oceans, sewer overflows, as well as long term infrastructure funding.
The work to make the most of the changes in Washington has already begun. Already a well prepared clean water community has engaged the president-elect’s transition team as well as key leaders in Congress in discussions about the most urgent clean water issues. NEIWPCC and our member states have been working hard to build on the election momentum and ensure that any new stimulus package includes several billion dollars for wastewater infrastructure projects that would be ready-to-go within 120 days. Many of these projects exist within our region.
With all that said, a tremendous amount of work still needs to be done. I can assure you that NEIWPCC is as committed as ever, if not more so, to proactively supporting the clean water agendas of our member states. We are eager to see the implementation of new and important programs that can greatly benefit our states in their work on increasingly complex water and wastewater issues.
On November 4, America voted for hope and for change. In the months to come, we must act to fulfill the election’s promise. It is vitally important that each and every one of us make the strongest case possible for a better and stronger clean water program. It is time for the nation to reset its priorities. Let us make sure that clean water gets the attention it deserves.
Sincerely,
Ronald Poltak
NEIWPCC Executive Director