Provisions initiated by the National Rural Water Association have been included
in the Farm Bill recently signed by President Bush.
This new bill will increase spending by nearly 80 percent over the cost
of continuing water and wastewater development programs.
These
provisions will benefit rural development across the nation by ensuring the
drinking water and wastewater needs of rural America will be funded.
Section
6031 of the Farm Bill provides $360 million (budget authority) to fund the
backlog of water and waste disposal loan and grant applications that are pending
when the Bill is enacted. Drinking
water applications will receive priority.
"This
is a great bill for rural water," said NRWA CEO Rob Johnson.
The
bill allows substantially completed applications to RUS to be funded
immediately. RUS will decide how
much will be allocated for grants and how much for loans, but the total cost to
the government cannot exceed $360 million.
State RD offices will be given latitude in determining which applications
are funded. This provision provides
an extra half-year of funding. It
also means that systems will quickly be moved up in the funding process for the
next fiscal year.
"The
farm bill has made a positive impact for rural water," said Johnson.
"With this funding, new programs can be developed and existing
programs replenished." "Economic
development for rural water will expand to a greater depth."