Environment

Nation’s Mayors Celebrate First Anniversary of Historic Inflation Reduction Act

The IRA represents the single largest investment in climate and clean energy in U.S. history Washington, D.C. — Today marks the first anniversary of the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act, a comprehensive law signed by President Biden that stands to deliver on numerous priorities of America’s mayors. In addition to its historic investments

By |2023-08-16T10:28:19-04:00August 16, 2023|Environment, News, Press Room|

Statement by the U.S. Conference of Mayors on the Maui Wildfires

Washington, DC—Below is a statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) President Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve and Chair of USCM’s Asian American Pacific Islanders Alliance (AAPI) Fremont Mayor Lily Mei on the recent wildfires in Maui: “The nation’s mayors stand in solidarity with Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen and those impacted by the devastating

By |2023-08-15T14:26:16-04:00August 15, 2023|Environment, News, Press Room|

Nation’s Mayors Welcome Biden Administration Efforts to Protect City Residents from Extreme Heat

Washington, D.C. — Today, President Joseph R. Biden announced a series of actions he is taking to address extreme heat in American communities and hosted Phoenix (AZ) Mayor Kate Gallego and San Antonio (TX) Mayor Ron Nirenberg to discuss the threats facing cities. In response to the announcement, U.S. Conference of Mayors President Reno

By |2023-07-27T15:53:01-04:00July 27, 2023|Environment, News, Press Room|

Cities Advancing Climate Action: Unlocking the Potential of the Inflation Reduction Act

New Report from the Alliance for a Sustainable Future The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is the nation’s largest ever investment in climate and energy, authorizing approximately $370 billion in spending in federal funding and tax credits. The landmark legislation, for the first time, provides tax-exempt entities, including local governments, the opportunity to receive

By |2023-07-11T21:26:01-04:00July 11, 2023|Energy, Environment|

EPA Unfunded Mandates: Priority Issues for Local Governments

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been moving forward with new and upcoming policies intended to protect public health and the environment, and they will likely impact municipal services like drinking and wastewater utilities, clean air regulations and solid waste management. EPA has a long list of new rules and policies. These EPA

By |2023-03-25T10:24:03-04:00March 14, 2023|Environment, Mayors Water Council|

$144.6 Billion All-Time High Local Spending on Water and Sewer Utilities in 2020 – CARES Act Fiscal Stimulus Makes an Impact

The United States Conference of Mayors Water Council tracks aggregate public expenditures and revenues of local water and sewer systems and the latest Census data reported for 2020 estimates local spending at $144.6 billion. This is not only an all-time annual high in spending but also demonstrates higher than expected infrastructure investment in the first

By |2022-12-12T18:55:33-05:00December 12, 2022|Environment, Mayors Water Council|

Joint Comment Letters Related to EPA Water and Environmental Rules and Regulations

The Council is actively engaged in monitoring and responding to federal regulatory proposals affecting the delivery of municipal water services. View our letters below on a wide range of water and wastewater issues impacting local governments.  Water System Restructuring Assessment Rule, July 2024 NPDES CSO Permitting Comment Letter, March 2024 National Primary Drinking

By |2024-07-29T23:25:30-04:00December 5, 2022|Environment, Mayors Water Council|

ADVISORY: U.S. Conference of Mayors to Host Three Panels at COP27

Sessions Featuring U.S. Mayors Will Highlight Importance of Local Leadership in the Global Fight Against Climate Change Washington, D.C. – A delegation from the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) will be in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt next week for the COP27 Climate Change Conference. On Monday, November 14, mayors from across the United States will

By |2022-11-11T09:15:42-05:00November 11, 2022|Environment, Media Advisories|

Delegation of American Mayors to Attend UN Climate Change Conference in Egypt

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) announced the organization’s delegation to COP27, the United Nation’s Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Delegation members include Austin (TX) Mayor Steve Adler, Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, and Des Moines (IA) Mayor Frank Cownie. Also attending will be Greenville (MS) Mayor Errick

By |2022-11-04T09:49:06-04:00November 4, 2022|Environment, Mayors Climate Protection Center, News, Press Room|

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), passed with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and recently signed by President Biden, will help prepare the Nation and our city/metro economies for the 21st Century. The $1.2 trillion package, including $550 billion of new spending over multiple years, was strongly supported by The U.S.

By |2022-02-10T15:20:57-05:00November 24, 2021|Environment|

On Third Day of Annual Meeting, Nation’s Mayors Advance More Than Thirty Policy Resolutions on the Environment, Jobs, Education, the Workforce, and Energy

On Thursday, August 26th, the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) gathered virtually for a jam-packed third day of the 89th Annual Meeting. More than thirty individual policy resolutions were advanced in three separate standing committee meetings. Mayors also discussed challenges facing their constituents, sharing new ideas, best practices, and support as cities continue to

Conference of Mayors Concludes Final Full Day of the 89th Winter Meeting

The final full day of the United States Conference of Mayors' 89th Winter Meeting, led by Conference President Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, brought mayors together with some of the biggest names in American politics to discuss the biggest challenges facing the country. Mayors were especially honored to welcome President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to the

Mayors Address Environmental Protection Policies at Virtual Annual Meeting  

Tuesday, at the United States Conference of Mayors’ 88th Annual Meeting, the Committee on the Environment met to consider a series of resolutions designed to protect our environment and advance sound policies that create jobs and programs to help make our cities greener. The Committee on the Environment advanced resolutions to

By |2020-06-25T10:57:31-04:00June 24, 2020|88th Annual Meeting (2020), Environment, Updates|

NEW: More than 300 Mayors Join Bipartisan Request for $250 Billion Directed to Cities to Fight Coronavirus, Protect Families & Communities

WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier this week, the leadership of the United States Conference of Mayors sent an urgent request to lawmakers as they prepare the next phase of a federal response to the coronavirus outbreak. Now, 303 mayors from 48 states and the District of Columbia have signed onto the letter seeking $250 billion in

United States Conference of Mayors Requests $250 Billion in Localized Aid to Fight Virus, Maintain City Services, Help Workers and Local Businesses

WASHINGTON, DC – As lawmakers deliberate on the next phase of the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) has sent an urgent request for resources to House and Senate leaders. Mayors and local officials are on the front lines of this battle, and they are asking lawmakers to prioritize

In Bipartisan Letter, Mayors Support House Leaders’ Infrastructure Framework

WASHINGTON – The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), led by President Bryan Barnett, Mayor of Rochester Hills, MI, pledged support for a House leaders’ infrastructure framework and offered assistance to help move the legislation forward this year. One week ago, three key House committee chairs released a comprehensive package of infrastructure investments and reforms,

Local Government Makes Record-High Investments in Public Water & Sewer Infrastructure

New Census Estimates Reveal Local Governments Invested a Record $125.5 Billion in Municipal Water and Sewer Infrastructure and Services in 2017 Washington, DC – Local government invested a record $125.5 billion in municipal water and sewer systems in 2017 according to the latest estimates released by the U.S. Census. The data demonstrates that local governments

By |2019-11-26T11:25:06-05:00November 26, 2019|Environment, Mayors Water Council, News, Press Room|

Resolved: Mayors to Speak Out on the Big Issues of the Day

The United States Conference of Mayors will soon gather for its Annual Meeting next week. Every summer, mayors from cities large and small come together to talk about their approaches to some of the most important challenges facing communities across the country. It’s an opportunity to share ideas and propose solutions, but also to help

Condon Testifies on the Importance of Funding and Flexibilty for the Clean Water Act

Testifying on behalf of the Conference of Mayors, Spokane Mayor David Condon spoke about the importance of Wastewater Infrastructure funding and regulatory flexibility and described Spokane's experience with complying with the Clean Water Act. Condon (center) testified on March 7, 2019 before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment and

By |2019-04-23T16:54:17-04:00April 23, 2019|Environment, Mayors Water Council|

Benjamin, Brainard, and Biskupski Tout Climate Actions, Want Renewed Funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) 

Conference President Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard and Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski Conference President Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, joined by Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard and Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, discussed their local climate strategies before a key House Subcommittee yesterday afternoon, urging the panel Members and Congress broadly to invest

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