The Northeast-Midwest Institute is presenting a 2021 Great Lakes Primer and Orientation Program in a series of one-hour webinars each Friday from 12 Noon to 1 p.m. starting on Friday, April 30. The Great Lakes Primer and Orientation Program is endeavoring to provide Congressional staff with a fundamental policy education on the most critical issues that directly impact the health of the Great Lakes at the federal level.
Session topics for this four-part Great Lakes Primer and Orientation Program include:
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI);
Invasive Species in the Great Lakes;
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the Great Lakes; and
Climate Change and Coastal Resiliency in the Great Lakes.
The first session focusing on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) on Friday, April 30th at Noon EDT is open for registration now. To register for the first session, please visit here. Additionally, if you have any questions, please email Matt McKenna at mmckenna@nemw.org.
President Biden Releases Major Infrastructure Plan
The Biden Administration last week released its long anticipated infrastructure plan. The package, which is being called the American Jobs Plan, would cost approximately $2 trillion, and includes a mix of jobs, infrastructure, and green energy proposals. Its stated aim is to reshape the American economy while also making it more globally competitive. The plan calls for a corporate tax rate increase from 21 percent to 28 percent, which would partially undo the corporate tax cut that was included in the 2017 tax bill.
The major components of the Biden infrastructure plan include:
$650 billion for infrastructure at home:
$111 billion – clean drinking water;
$100 billion – high speed broadband;
$100 billion – electrical infrastructure;
$213 billion – affordable and sustainable housing;
$137 billion – public schools, early learning centers, and community colleges; and
$28 billion – other initiatives.
$621 billion for transportation infrastructure:
$115 billion – highways, bridges, and roads;
$85 billion – public transportation;
$80 billion – passenger and freight rail;
$174 billion – electric vehicles;
$42 billion – airports and water ports;
$45 billion – transportation inequities;
$50 billion – infrastructure resilience; and
$30 billion – other initiatives.
$580 billion for economic development initiatives:
$180 billion - research and development
$300 billion – manufacturing and small business; and
$100 billion – workforce development.
$400 billion for the caretaking economy.
A full factsheet of the American Jobs Plan can be viewed here.
U.S. Water Alliance Releases Report on an
Equitable Water Future for Pittsburgh
The U.S. Water Alliance and the Pittsburgh Water Equity Learning Team have released a roadmap for the future of Pittsburgh regarding equitable access to clean drinking water and affordable water services. The team was brought together through the U.S. Water Alliance’s Water Equity Task Force, a cross-sector collaborative effort which brings multiple cities together to promote equitable water management and policies.
Like many cities, Pittsburgh has struggled with aging water infrastructure systems in their attempts to deliver safe and clean drinking water to residents. Lead contamination in local water supplies often results in public distrust in their water distribution systems. The lack of trust creates a significant barrier in efforts to create an inclusive and equitable water system that benefits low-income communities of color.
The report highlights some of the challenges Pittsburgh faces regarding water distribution and wastewater management systems and presents recommendations for progress in key focus areas. The Pittsburgh Water Equity Learning Team reviewed five priority areas for improvement that the city can focus on, including: water quality and environmental health, sustainable storm water management, affordability, workforce development, and water democracy.
The recommendations for each focus area center on the people of Pittsburgh, acknowledging the systematic disparities in the current water system. Action steps include plans for replacing all lead lines in Pittsburgh by 2026, prioritizing equity in infrastructure investments and through updating city codes, and advocating for state and federal funding for future water projects. Leaders in the water sector are called on to work with local communities to address their concerns and to find sustainable solutions to allow Pittsburgh to achieve equitable water management.
The full report from the U.S. Water Alliance titled “An Equitable Water Future: Pittsburgh” can be found here.
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