WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), introduced Eric Volk, Executive Director of the North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association, during a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) hearing.
Panelists provided a variety of perspectives on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which authorized $55 billion in funding for a range of water infrastructure programs, including grants for small and disadvantaged communities, lead service line replacement and emerging contaminants, support for innovative water technologies, and funding for wastewater treatment and stormwater management. Most of this funding is set to flow through the State Revolving Loan Funds programs, which helped deliver $63 million in water infrastructure funding to North Dakota in 2022, approximately $44 million more than the state received in 2021.
Senator Cramer began by questioning Mr. Volk about the State Revolving Loan Funds programs and how its funding formula has benefited rural states like North Dakota, as well as the value technical assistance provides to rural water systems across the state.