U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, questioned Dennis Sternberg, Executive Director of the Arkansas Rural Water Association; Kristina Swallow, President of the American Society of Civil Engineers; and Pat Riley, Advisory Committee Member of the Family Farm Alliance about America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 in an EPW hearing today.

Click to watch Sen. Inhofe’s remarks.

Remarks:

Inhofe: I've got three areas, that, as I've listened to the opening statements and heard the responses to questions, that I think could use a little more elaboration. I know that, Mr. Sternberg,  that--and I wanted to tell you, you've got a real champion of rural water in Senator Boozman. He's one that is always on that ball and we agree with the problems. After all,  Oklahoma and Arkansas are both rural areas. We're both impacted by how we do treat that. What I'd like to have you do is to--anything you want to add to on how this bill is going to be helpful--specifically to the rural areas, give you the chance now to elaborate on that should you want to.

Sternberg: Thank you Sen. Inhofe and we appreciate all your work from Oklahoma for rural water and my counterpart James Gammill talks about you all the time. So, thank you for the opportunity to add some additional stuff. My last comment would be on this bill is again 14,500 wastewater systems throughout this nation in every state represent 10,000 population and under. There the ones that rely on rural water technical assistance in the field. Troubleshooting their problems that they have, because again, they don't have the expertise as larger systems where they have—

Inhofe: Or the resources--you know, when you go around, I know it's not any different in Arkansas than it is in Oklahoma and when this hits them, they have no way of responding to it as it might in a major metropolitan area.

Sternberg: Exactly, so the technical assistance funding for the Clean Water Circuit Riders is essential. It's essential. The Safe Drinking Water Act has the Circuit Riders Technical Assistance Provision of 12.7 million. EPA is a stumbling block because of how they've appropriated that money and put it out. ...

Inhofe: ... Ms. Swallow, really 150,000 civil engineers? Did I hear you right?

Swallow: Yes.

Inhofe: And you're in charge of all of them?

Swallow: (Laughter) Not so sure I'm in charge. I represent them.

Inhofe: Well, in your statement, toward the latter part of your statement, you did address the SRF WIN Act and I just wanted to remind everyone that not only myself, but Chairman Barrasso is with Senator Boozman on this legislation. Now, form your very unique position, is there anything you have not said concerning that that you'd like to get in the record. You're the head of the civil engineers.

Swallow: You know, thank you for the opportunity. We're really excited that this bill is being advanced in a bipartisan manner. We're excited to hear that you're working on the SRF WIN Act and ultimately, when we talk about our infrastructure, anything we can do to increase the investment. That's the biggest challenge, is increasing the investment. We're woefully under funding it.

Inhofe: I appreciate that very much. Mr. Riley, you responded to Chairman Barrasso's statement when we talked about local participation and, you know, there are some people who really don't think a good decision is made unless it's made in Washington. There are those of us who believe--who have served in the private sector as well as well as the public sector at local levels--we don't agree with that. So, in your testimony you say the best decisions on water issues happen at the state and local level and I would agree with that. ... is there anything you'd like to expand on the advantages of the local participation that you have not yet?

Riley: Thank you, Sen. Inhofe. I guess the proof is in the pudding when in fact the local effort. That means that we've spent our money before we come to see you and it's our idea and I believe that sells it in itself that we have come to you. We've spent a lot of money. In our state, I've worked on rural water, tribal state irrigation projects. We're coming to you, that means that it's already been originated on our side of the the ball looking for help.

Inhofe: That's a great reminder and we'll all remember that. Thank you very much.