Washington Report – May 19, 2025

**Due to the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, the APWA Washington Report will not publish May 26. Be sure to follow APWA Government Affairs on X and LinkedIn. The Washington Report returns June 2 when Congress is back in session.

Latest News

Happy National Public Works Week!

This is National Public Works Week, and APWA’s Government Affairs Team will host multiple events at the U.S. Capitol to celebrate and recognize the week and the achievements of APWA members;
A roundtable breakfast focused on the public works workforce will be held May 20 with APWA members from South Carolina, Iowa, Minnesota, and Washington D.C. speaking about key programs their departments implement to bring more people into their teams and support their local infrastructure:
- APWA’s Chief Learning Officer will also speak about APWA’s education and credentialing programs with the panel being moderated by CEO Scott Grayson
- U.S. Dept. of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is expected to offer comments, along with House Public Works and Infrastructure Caucus Co-Chair Representative Dina Titus (D-NV)
Later, on May 20, APWA will host its first APWA Awards Reception recognizing Top 10 and Projects of the Year winners from 2024:
- APWA President Dominick Longobardi will join the reception as well
May 22, APWA’s Donuts and Trucks will take place in partnership with the D.C. Department of Public Works;
Resolutions recognizing National Public Works Week are also expected to again be introduced in the U.S. Congress;
As we celebrate “People, Purpose, Presence” across the country, share your community’s #NPWW activities throughout the week by tagging APWA Government Affairs on X and LinkedIn.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Release Draft FEMA Bill

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) have released a draft discussion bill, the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025;
The Representatives are actively seeking input on the draft, which calls for the following changes to FEMA:
- Move FEMA to a stand-alone, Cabinet-level agency codifying FEMA’s role as the nation’s lead agency on federal government disaster response
- Streamline the grant disbursement process by completing a single application when applying for assistance reducing paperwork
- Preapproval for mitigation projects through a peer-review process to speed up funding disbursements following disasters
- Create a Recovery Task Force charged with closing out disaster declarations dating back to Hurricane Katrina
- Instructs FEMA to improve coordination across all federal agencies involved in disaster recovery
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would establish a centralized public website that tracks disaster assistance funding across the federal government
This is an excellent opportunity for public works professionals to provide comments and offer your valuable perspective;
While there is currently no deadline to offer feedback, send comments to Marty Williams, Government Affairs Manager at mwilliams@apwa.org before May 30.

Congressional Bi-Partisan Letter Sent to DHS Calling for Reinstatement of BRIC Grants

A bipartisan coalition of Congressional members submitted a letter calling for the reinstatement of the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant Program, which was recently discontinued;
The letter was sent to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and the Senior Official Performing the Duties of FEMA Administrator David Richardson.

FEMA Releases National Household Safety Survey Results

FEMA has released the results of its National Household Safety (NHS) survey;
The NHS includes national data pertaining to earthquakes, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, winter storms, extreme heats, tornados, and urban events;
Among other things, the survey found, “The most frequently selected challenge to taking actions to prepare for a disaster or emergency was thinking that it would cost too much.”

FEMA Releases Updated Preparedness Grants Processing Information Bulletin

FEMA is out with a Process for Certain Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Preparedness Grants advisory;
This information bulletin serves to modify the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) and provide an expedited submission, review, and decision process for grant recipient liquidation/closeout extension requests for certain FY20 preparedness grant programs, which include
The deadline to request an extension is May 31.

DOT Announces Approval of IIJA Funded Projects

Dept. of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy has announced the approval of 76 projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that had been under review by the department;
The list of approved projects broken down by state, program, and project may be found here.

FTA Announces Two Grant Programs for Joint Application

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released a joint notice of funding opportunity for two programs: FY25 Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No Program), and the FY25 Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (Bus Program);
The deadline for applications is July 14, and eligible applicants are states (including territories and Washington, D.C.), local government entities, and federally recognized Indian tribes;
Full details and application instructions are available in the link above.

DOT Establishing Advisory Board

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) announced it is creating a Transportation Advisory Board and is solicitating nominations for membership;
The deadline for nominations is June 2 with the full details and purpose available at the above link;
This board will be comprised of 10 advisors who will serve for 2-years and advise the Secretary of Transportation on “strategic vision and high-level guidance to modernize and enhance the United States’ transportation systems”;
Applicants should come from across key sectors of transportation to include aviation, logistics, infrastructure, construction, finance, and legal affairs.

Senate to markup the WIPPES Act

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene Wednesday to consider, among other bills, the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety or WIPPES Act (S. 1092);
The WIPPES Act would require packaging for premoistened, nonwoven disposable wipe, such as baby wipes, to include a label stating that the products cannot be flushed down a toilet;
APWA supports this proposal.

On the Horizon

(All times ET)

May 20 at 9:30 a.m., the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing to review the President’s FY26 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS);
May 20 at 10 a.m., the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing to review the President’s FY26 budget request for the Department of the Interior;
May 20 at 10 a.m., the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will hold a hearing on the President’s FY26 budget request for the EPA;
May 20 at 10:15 a.m., the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing, Defending Against Drones-Setting Safeguards for Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Authorities;
May 21 at 10 a.m., the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee is holding an executive session and the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act [S. 1092] will be considered;
May 21 at 10 a.m., the House Energy-Water Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing to review the President’s FY26 budget request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
May 21 at 10 a.m., the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing on the President’s FY26 budget request for the EPA;
May 21 at 10:30 a.m., the Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing to review the President’s FY26 budget request for the Department of Interior;
May 22, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) will hold a hearing on the nomination of Henry Mack III to serve as Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA). A link is not yet available;
May 22 at 2 p.m., the House Homeland Security Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee will hold a hearing, Mass Gathering Events: Assessing Security Coordination and Preparedness.