Continuing Resolution on the Horizon

With both Congressional chambers about to leave town for the August recess, the likelihood of passage for any of the 12 appropriations measures begins to dim. Even when Congress returns in September, all of the House and one-third of the Senate will be engaged in the run up to the November elections.

While this is certainly not good public policy, use of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government until after the election cycle may not be so bad for drinking water. For however long it exists, the CR would extend current funding levels for EPA ($8.2 billion) which means that the DWSRF could maintain its funding level of $906.8 million versus the Administration’s FY 15 budget request level of $757 million. PWSS grants would continue at a funding level of $101.9 million and competitive awards for drinking water research would maintain the FY 14 level of $4.2 million.