Washington Report – March 24, 2025

APWA Utah Chapter member and Operations Associate Director for Salt Lake County Public Works Leon Berrett was joined by APWA Government Affairs Manager Marty Williams at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) 2025 Mid-Year Forum in Washington, DC, the forum began this past Friday and will conclude on Tuesday, March 25;
NEMA’s forum included discussions on the following topics:
- Continuing the practice of providing national leadership and expertise related to emergency management while simultaneously seeking to improve emergency management via strategic partnerships, innovative programs, and collaborative policy positions
- Enhancing the ongoing collaborative efforts with the Executive and Legislative federal branches of government
- Focusing on recovery and resilience programs and best practices in preparation for the 2025 hurricane season
- Ensuring communities have the resources they need to better prepare for and recover from emergencies and disasters
- Examining partnerships between the public and private sectors related to the alert and warning systems for wildfires – how might they be improved and potentially streamlined.

President Trump has issued the “Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness” Executive Order (EO);
The EO seeks to enhance state, local, and individual preparedness related to infrastructure prioritization:
- Within 180-days of the date of this EO, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the heads of relevant agencies, shall review all critical infrastructure policies and recommend to the President the revisions, rescissions, and replacements necessary to achieve a more resilient posture; shift from an all-hazards approach to a risk-informed approach;
- Within 90 days of the date of this EO, the (APNSA), the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies, shall publish a National Resilience Strategy (NRS) that outlines the priorities of the NRS, the NRS shall be reviewed and revised at least every 4 years, or as appropriate.

As a part of the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) APWA joined with 19 state and local government, road safety, and infrastructure focused organizations in sending a letter to Congress standing against any legislation allowing for heavier and longer trucks on our roads;
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) expires September 30, 2026, and safety is a key component of APWA’s 119th Congress Transportation policy priorities;
APWA has been a member of CABT for many years educating lawmakers on the fact that most local roads and bridges are maintained by local agencies and governments and the wear and tear of heavier trucks compromises the infrastructure integrity and safety.

Take 1-2 minutes today to contact your U.S. Representative about the recently re-established U.S. House Public Works & Infrastructure Caucus;
Based on your zip code, if your U.S. Representative is already a member, a pre-generated email thanking them for joining will be sent; if your U.S. Representative has not yet joined, pre-generated language urging them to join will populate;
Your participation in these action alerts is critical to helping amplify APWA’s voice in Washington, D.C. even more;
The caucus, originally established in 2016, plays an invaluable role in helping to educate Members of Congress and their staff about the importance of public works and infrastructure;
Click here to email your lawmakers, then share the link;
Text PWX to 52886 to receive alerts via text message.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released a report summarizing the impact of Hurricane Helene which hit the United States during September 2024.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin recently announced the agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have reviewed the definition of Waters of the US (WOTUS) and provided guidance in determining when a wetland has a “continuous surface connection” to a requisite jurisdictional water under the Clean Water Act;
The actions are changes from the Biden Administration and in response to a 2023 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, Sackett vs. EPA limiting federal regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act;
EPA and USACE issued a guidance memorandum on March 12, and made effective immediately on the “proper implementation of the definition of “waters of the United States”;
A request for recommendations has been published in the March 24 Federal Register and comments are due by April 23;
The agencies will be hosting listening sessions in April and May—virtual and in-person, with registration available here.

U.S. Representatives Ken Calvert (R-CA) and John Garamendi (D-CA) have reintroduced legislation H.R. 2093 to reform federal permitting standards for local wastewater treatment and water recycling projects;
If enacted, the legislation would extend the maximum term for certain permits issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES);
Legislation would extend the maximum term for certain permits issued under the NPDES program;
The legislation aligns with APWA’s 119th Congress Water Resiliency Policy Priorities and APWA was supportive of similar legislation in the last Congress;
APWA President Dominick Longobardi and CEO Scott Grayson expressed support for H.R. 2093 on behalf of APWA.

(All times ET)

March 25 at 10 a.m., the House Transportation and Infrastructure Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Bringing Common Sense Back to Federal Emergency Management”;
March 25 at 10:15 a.m., the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on numerous bills, including H.R. 1897, Endangered Species Act Amendments. APWA testified on similar legislation during the last Congress;
March 26 at 9:30 a.m., the House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing to discuss the National Transportation Safety Board;
March 26 at 10 a.m., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a nominations hearing including those for the Environmental Protection Agency and Fish and Wildlife Service.