Washington, DC—Below is a statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Columbia (SC) Mayor Steve Benjamin on today’s passage of America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018:

“The nation’s Mayors applaud Congress’s bipartisan efforts to pass America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, a bill that addresses the pressing needs of the country’s water infrastructure.

“The bill marks a positive step forward and will bring much-needed investment to key water infrastructure projects, including harbors, locks, dams, and flood protection, all of which are critical to the safety of our communities and the strength of the nation’s economy. We are also pleased that the bill provides financial resources and technical assistance to address other urgent concerns such as lead contamination in drinking water, resilience to natural hazards and workforce development and training.

“We are grateful to our Congressional colleagues for their willingness to work with the nation’s mayors, especially since local governments fund nearly 98 percent of all water and wastewater infrastructure investment. While the bill does not address all of our concerns, namely the shortfall of the Harbor Maintenance Fund and providing local governments the ability to address unfunded federal mandates, it does show how we can deliver real solutions when we set aside partisan differences and work together. We look forward to continuing our work with Congress on these priorities.”