One Water Summit – September 15, 2022

Field Hearing on Promoting Water Equity in Great Lakes Cities and Safeguarding the Transformative Potential of the Infrastructure Law 

One Water Summit
September 15, 2022 at 2-3:30pm CT / 3-4:30pm ET
Wisconsin Center, Room 101B, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee

VIEW FIELD HEARING

Event Summary:

The Mayors Commission on Water Equity's Field Hearing on Promoting Water Equity in Great Lakes Cities and Safeguarding the Transformative Potential of the Infrastructure Law will feature live testimony from several Great Lakes mayors and dialogue with senior EPA and state officials regarding the equitable implementation of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's water-infrastructure provisions. The Field Hearing is hosted by the Mayors Commission on Water Equity in partnership with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, the U.S. Water Alliance, and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides $11.71 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $11.71 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund — in addition to a $15 billion set aside for lead service line replacement — over five years. While EPA and State Revolving Fund Administrators are making strides to support equitable implementation, more must be done to maximize the impact of historic federal investments in water infrastructure. Additionally, since the ultimate success of the infrastructure law will be determined at the local level, mayors must be critical partners in identifying implementation barriers, proposing solutions, and ensuring projects deliver transformative results.

Event Agenda:

2:00pm CT   Welcome and Opening Remarks by: 

• • • • • Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Co-Chair of the Mayors Commission on Water Equity
        • Mayor Billy McKinney, Chair of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative 

 2:10pm CT    Opening Remarks by:

• • • • • Karen Dettmer, Managing Director for Infrastructure Implementation, U.S. EPA, Office of Water
        • Debra Shore, Regional Administrator, U.S. EPA Region 5 

 2:20pm CT    Mayoral Testimony from:

• • • • • Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Milwaukee, WI – Written Testimony 
        • Mayor Malik Evans, Rochester, NY – Written Testimony 
        • Mayor Daniel Biss, Evanston, IL – Written Testimony
        • Mayor Joe Schember, Erie, PA – Written Testimony
        • Mayor Marcus Muhammad, Benton Harbor, MI – Written Testimony 
        • Mayor Jack Bradley, Lorain, OH – Written Testimony
        • Mayor Ken Johnson, Muskegon, MI – Written Testimony
        • Mayor Bill Bazzi, Dearborn Heights, MI
        • Mayor Frank Whitfield, Elyria, OH – Written Testimony
        • Mayor Ryan Sorenson, Sheboygan, WI
        • Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago, IL – Pre-Recorded Video Statement

3:10pm CT    Summary of Policy Recommendations by:

• • • • • Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Co-Chair of the Mayors Commission on Water Equity

3:15pm CT    Dialogue with Senior EPA Officials and State Revolving Fund Administrators

Event Bios:

Bios of event participants may be viewed here.

Policy Recommendations:

The Mayors Commission on Water Equity's policy recommendations to safeguard the equitable implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act may be viewed here.

Press Releases:
MILWAUKEE, September 16, 2022 – Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Mayors from eleven other Midwest cities, along with EPA and state officials, take part in Lead Line Removal and Water Equity field hearing.

For more information, please contact Travis Wheeler, U.S. Policy Director, at twheeler@glslcities.org.