Board approves 2012-13 advocacy priorities Jim Fahey Director of Government and Public Affairs American Public Works Association Washington, D.C.
t the August APWA International Public Works Congress & Exposition in Anaheim, Calif., the Board of Directors adopted a set of advocacy priorities focused on national issues of interest to public works and local communities. They include implementation of the new surface transportation bill, MAP-21; sustainability and environmental protection; water infrastructure investment; stormwater; and emergency management.
5. Support for sustainability and environmental stewardship
The Board of Directors also reaffirmed APWA’s five overarching principles underpinning this year’s priorities: 1. Support for adequate investment in public infrastructure 2. Respect for local authority 3. Reasonable regulations and protection from unfunded mandates 4. Support for streamlining government oversight
APWA supports policies that create livable communities and economic growth on behalf of all levels of government. The Government Affairs Committee each year recommends priorities to guide APWA member advocacy initiatives. This year’s priorities represent a targeted set of legislative and regulatory policy goals. The following are advocacy priorities for the next year: •
Surface Transportation Authorization Objective: Increase federal investment in transportation infrastructure; support full implementation of MAP-21; then enact a multi-year, multimodal surface transportation authorization that maintains a strong federal role and provides dedicated, reliable and equitable funding to both state and local governments for building, maintaining and operating state and local systems.
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Sustainability, Environmental Protection and Public Health Objective: Support legislative and regulatory issues that encourage sustainable environmental protection and public health.
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6 APWA Reporter
October 2012
Wastewater and Drinking Water Infrastructure Funding
