Congress Pushes Water, Wastewater Funding Bills Despite Growing Deficit

摘要

Despite an increasingly gloomy outlook for the federal government's fiscal health, members of Congress continue to seek additional funding for water and wastewater infrastructure. Although the efforts reflect the importance that many in Congress attach to the issue, recent legislation intended to boost funding may get waylaid by concerns over the government's escalating budget deficit. On September 4 the Congressional Budget Office projected that the federal government will incur deficits of $401 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2003 and $480 billion in PY 2004, projections well above previous estimates. Three days later, President Bush requested that Congress provide an additional $87 billion to fund activities in Iraq and Afghanistan in FY 2004. Against this backdrop, lawmakers are struggling to find ways to ease the financial burdens of water and wastewater utilities.