***Congress will not be in session next week, so the Washington Report will not publish September 22. For daily public works news and ideas, follow us daily on X and LinkedIn.***
Latest News
Continuing Resolution Expected this Week
- With the current fiscal year ending Sept. 30, the House and Senate have not completed FY26 appropriations measures to keep the federal government fully funded;
- House leadership has announced a continuing resolution (CR) will be introduced this week to continue federal funding until Nov. 20, though President Trump would prefer a CR to Jan. 31;
- As of this morning, the plan seems to be to include three FY26 spending bills (Agriculture, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs) with the CR;
- The President last week sent Congress a list of funding tweaks, known as anomalies, for certain federal programs to remain funded through a CR for their continuance, even if related appropriations bills are not passed, and this anomaly includes funds for mitigation in certain areas and sensitive ecosystems to help prevent wildfires, among other, non-public works focused items.
APWA Testifies Before U.S. House Committee
- APWA Immediate Past President Dominick Longobardi testified before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, Sept. 10, about the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act;
- The SPEED Act would amend the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to clarify ambiguous provisions and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process;
- Click here to watch the recording of the hearing. APWA testimony begins at 3hrs and 40 min
- APWA’s press release is here.
FTA Releases FY 2025 Program Information
- The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released FY25 program information, including funding apportionments, allocations, and updated program information.
DOI Seeking Members for Advisory Committee
- The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) is seeking members to serve on its National Volcano Early Warning System Advisory Committee (NVEWSAC);
- NVEWSAC includes federal and non-federal experts
- Members may also be selected from state and local governments, academia, and the volcano science community
- The committee is tasked with assisting the Interior Secretary in implementing the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System (NVEWS) and to provide an annual report describing its activities and related scientific research;
- NVEWSAC nominations can be emailed to Gari Mayberry, Volcano Hazard Program Coordinator with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); the deadline to submit nominations is Oct. 9.
CISA Releases New Roadmap
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released its Strategic Focus: Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Quality for a Cyber Secure Future Guide;
- This free tool emphasizes expanding federal and non-federal agency partnerships, modernizing CVE infrastructure, and improving the overall cybersecurity hygiene of our nation’s operators;
- The CVE program publicly tracks known software vulnerabilities.
Reminder–Take Action to Protect Vital Water Infrastructure Funding
- The President’s FY26 budget proposal recommended cutting 90% of the Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving funds (SRFs) and defunding the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA);
- While the recently passed FY26 appropriations bills have reinstated some of the original funding, these bills are still recommending the SRFs get $2B less than previous funding levels;
- APWA is calling on you to ACT NOW and tell your federal representatives to support full funding for WIFIA and the SRFs;
- Not receiving APWA legislative action alerts? Sign up by texting PWX to 52886.
On The Horizon
(All times ET)
- Sept. 16 at 2 p.m., the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment will hold a hearing on Clean Air Act permitting, From Gridlock to Growth: Permitting Reform Under the Clean Air Act;
- Sept. 17 at 9:50 a.m., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold an oversight hearing of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
- Sept. 17 at 10 a.m., the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee is scheduled to vote on the nomination of Neil Jacobs to be Commerce Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Administrator);
- Sept. 18 at 2 p.m., the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee will hold a hearing, Examining Solutions to Expedite Broadband Permitting;
- Sept. 24/25 at 11 a.m., the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host a daylong virtual technical assistance workshop, When Minutes Matter All-Hazards Alert and Warning Communications.
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