Terri Sewell announces new wastewater infrastructure initiative

Rep. Terri Sewell paid a visit to Lowndes County to announce a new wastewater infrastructure initiative. 

Sewell recently hosted a roundtable White Hall Town Hall in Lowndesboro where U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan were present. 

Sewell spoke of the initiative passed under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address what was called in her announcement "broken and failing" wastewater systems in rural Alabama.

“Access to adequate wastewater infrastructure is a basic human right, but for too many of my constituents, generations of disinvestment have led to broken and failing wastewater systems that put the health of our communities at risk,” Sewell said.

“Since coming to Congress, I have made addressing our wastewater crisis a top priority, working to secure funding and direct resources to areas in need of help. Now, thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration and transformative investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more help is on the way."

The act was titled Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative.

"This joint initiative between the EPA and USDA will be instrumental in our fight to improve wastewater infrastructure for our most underserved communities,” she said. 

Sewell's announcement said that local communities and tribal lands will be able to receive support from the EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve wastewater infrastructure with engineering, developing solution plans and pursing funding.