Legislative Advocacy
Thanks to the strong, trusted relationships built over many years, Rural Water is often called to testify before Congress. This directly reflects the expertise, credibility, and success of our annual grassroots advocacy campaign.
2026
On February 24, Eric Hill, Russellville Water & Sewer Board General Manager and National Rural Water Association Board Director from Alabama, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on the Environment during the hearing entitled: From Source to Tap: A Hearing to Examine Challenges and Opportunities for Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Drinking Water.
Full story coming soon.
Matt Odermann, past president of the North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association and National Rural Water Association (NRWA) Representative on the CISA Water & Wastewater Coordinating Council, testified before the Senate Committee on Environmental and Public Works during the “Identifying and Addressing Cybersecurity Challenges to Protect America’s Water Infrastructure” hearing on February 4.
2025
On April 30, Tom Goulette, President of Nebraska Rural Water Association (NeRWA) and Treasurer on the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) Board of Directors, represented small and rural water and wastewater systems as a witness during the “Building on the IIJA’s Successes: Identifying Opportunities to Strengthen Water Infrastructure Programs” hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
2024
On July 10 the Alabama Rural Water Association’s (ARWA’s) Board President Mark Bohlin testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy. The hearing, entitled “State of the Rural Infrastructure: Emergency Response, Recovery, and Resilience,” spotlighted the critical issues facing small and rural water systems in the United States.
Rick Jeffares, President of Georgia Rural Water Association and National Director on the National Rural Water Association Board of Directors, represented small and rural water and wastewater systems across the country as a witness during the “Ensuring the Cybersecurity of America’s Drinking Water Systems” hearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials on January 31.
2023
Executive Director of North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association (NDRWSA) Eric Volk testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing on September 7 entitled “Implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Perspectives on The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, Part II.” The hearing allowed Volk to share challenges and perspectives rural and small water systems are facing with members of the committee.
Executive Director of Alabama Rural Water Association (ARWA) Rob White testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on July 19 entitled “Rural Water: Modernizing our Community Water Systems.” The hearing was part of the Senate Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy and allowed for White to provide recommendations for the Farm Bill on behalf of Rural Water.
NRWA CEO Matt Holmes testified on June 13 before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development during the Stakeholder Perspectives on USDA’s Rural Development Program hearing.
Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems Executive Director Mark Pepper testified before the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works about Water Affordability and Small System Assistance on May 31.
2022
On November 15, Kenneth Herring, General Manager of Adams County Water Association in Mississippi, testified on behalf of NRWA before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for Rural Development and Energy Programs. Herring expressed his concerns for water affordability, since utilities already operate on small margins and the price of supplies has increased, which means ratepayers are left feeling the impacts of the increased cost of water in areas that may not have the income to afford increases.
Current NRWA President John O’Connell III testified as then NRWA Senior-Vice President before the House Committee on Homeland Security on September 21, 2022, on Critical Infrastructure Preparedness and Resilience: A Focus on Water. O’Connell began by thanking the volunteers from Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and Alabama Rural Water Associations for their role in the Jackson Water Crisis and restoring water services at no cost to the city, which is just one of the numerous reasons he listed as to why safe drinking water is vital to our country.
On June 17, Dennis Sternberg, Arkansas Rural Water Association (ARWA) Executive Director, testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry in Jonesboro, Arkansas in reference to the 2023 Farm Bill. He highlighted the important role water and wastewater workers played during the COVID-19 pandemic and their quick responses when natural disasters affect rural communities.
David Boone, General Manager of the Copiah Water Association in Mississippi, testified on behalf of the Mississippi Rural Water Association and NRWA before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight on June 9, 2022, in reference to S.4244 – Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2022.
On April 5, 2022, Mark Pepper, Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems (WARWS) Executive Director, testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, regarding the implementation of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act.