From Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA04):
McEachin Takes Action During Virginia Department of Health’s Public Comment Period
Richmond, VA – Today, Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) sent a letter to Governor Glenn Youngkin, detailing available federal funds allocated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and calling for the prioritization of disadvantaged communities during implementation. This letter comes during the Virginia Department of Health’s public comment period, which will remain open until September 17th, 2022.
“Historic investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law offer our Commonwealth an unprecedented opportunity to upgrade our infrastructure, improve our water quality, and address these disparities. The majority of water infrastructure funding is dedicated to the EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which provide low-cost financing for local water projects across the country,” Rep. McEachin (VA-04) said in the letter. “Notably, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specified that 49 percent of Drinking Water General Supplemental Funding and Lead Service Line Replacement Funding should go to disadvantaged communities.”
Congressman McEachin fought to ensure notable environmental justice priorities were included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. He has long advocated for the protection of historically marginalized communities and the equitable implementation of federal programs and initiatives to ensure these communities are not left behind, and he continues those efforts as more programs and funding opportunities are made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“You have frequently expressed your intent for the government to work for all Virginians across our diverse Commonwealth,” continued Rep. McEachin (VA-04). “This involves prioritizing needs of communities that have been historically underserved. I encourage you to leverage competencies of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice to center environmental justice considerations in the implementation of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding.”
Read the full letter from Congressman McEachin here and the EPA’s Implementation of the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law memorandum here. More information on VDH’s intended use plan for FY2022 is available here.
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