U.S. Conference of Mayors To Address Rising Costs of Unfunded Environmental Mandates

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) will host a panel discussion with five mayors on Thursday, May 31 at the National Press Club.

During the session, the mayors will highlight the progress that has been made, as well as underscore the urgent need for reform of rules governing city-water systems as aggressive environmental unfunded mandates collide with the ability of cities' ability to pay for them.

The mayors will also engage in an interactive conversation with reporters to explain their local challenges and interactions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as offer suggestions to both EPA and Congress to better meet the water/wastewater needs of cities and their residents.

Providing safe and adequate water and wastewater infrastructure and services is the third largest expenditure of municipalities after education and electrical supply, yet the EPA continues to pursue a program that expands the responsibility of cities and significantly increases their financial burden. Cities are almost single-handedly shouldering this burden while also dealing with increasing long-term debt and shrinking municipal funds.

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What: The USCM will host a panel discussion with attending media to address different ways in which cities can deal with the financial burden of unfunded environmental mandates by the federal government.

Who:

Hallandale Beach, Fla., Mayor Joy Cooper - Chair, USCM Environment Committee

Chicopee, Mass., Mayor Michael Bissonnette - Vice-Chair, UCSM Environment Committee

Chattanooga, Tenn., Mayor Ron Littlefield - Former Public Works Commissioner for Chattanooga

Lima, Oh., Mayor Dave Berger

Omaha, Neb., Mayor Jim Suttle - Former Public Works Director for Omaha

When: 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2012

Where: Lisagor Room, National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20045