St. Joseph Sewer Project Funding Authorized by Water Resources Development Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) applauded passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 by both the House and the Senate. The measure now heads to the White House for the President’s signature. The Act authorizes $50 million for funding sewer and stormwater projects throughout North Missouri, including $25 million in sewer updates for the City of St. Joseph, Missouri.

“Residents of St. Joseph have seen their sewer rates triple in recent years because of unfunded EPA mandates,” Graves said. “This year’s Water Resources Development Act provides much needed funding to help upgrade the City’s sewer system while taking some of the burden off local ratepayers. That’s incredibly important, especially now, when many Americans are struggling to keep up with unprecedented inflation and the rising cost of living in this country. I applaud the efforts of the City of St. Joseph to freeze sewer rates since 2018 and thank them for their efforts in helping get this critical funding authorized.”

Once the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 is signed into law, funding will need to be appropriated by Congress in order for it to be distributed to the City of St. Joseph. Securing funding for this project will be a top priority for Congressman Graves. 

“The EPA mandates have been extremely hard to keep up with financially. Thanks to Congressman Graves and his staff, this much needed funding will assist St. Joseph in remaining compliant with the existing consent order. This money will be used for pipe lining which will reduce infiltration coming into the treatment plant and with future phosphorus limits expected from the EPA,” said Abe Forney, Public Works and Transportation Director, City of St. Joseph.

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