New poll shows strong bipartisan support for Water Infrastructure Bill

Dec. 2, 2016
Voters want lame-duck Congress to pass Water Resources Development Act and pipeline rehabilitation aid in year-end push.

MILWAUKEE, WI, DECEMBER 2, 2016 -- A national poll released Monday by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) found that voters strongly support federal funding for water pipelines and waterways as well as for resources that prevent drinking water contamination crises, like those that occurred in Flint, Michigan.

The findings were part of a national poll commissioned by AEM and conducted by Morning Consult, which polled nearly 2,000 registered voters to gauge voter perceptions and attitudes about United States water infrastructure broadly and the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 specifically. The national poll was conducted as part of AEM's ongoing efforts to develop a long-term national vision for U.S. infrastructure through its Infrastructure Vision 2050 initiative.

"Improving and modernizing U.S. infrastructure overall, and in this case, water infrastructure, continues to be a bipartisan priority among voters," said Dennis Slater, AEM President. "Congressional leaders in both the U.S. Senate and House are to be commended for taking action on their respective versions of a 2016 WRDA bill, but should reach consensus on a final version before the 114th Congress adjourns."

Some key findings from the report:

  • A majority (54 percent) of registered voters say that U.S. water infrastructure is in fair or poor condition.
  • Nearly seven out of 10 (67 percent) of the surveyed population believe that the federal government should spend somewhat more or much more on water pipelines and waterways.
  • More than seven out of every 10 (74 percent) registered voters either support or strongly support Congress passing WRDA.
  • A clear majority (73 percent) of registered voters are either somewhat or much more likely to support WRDA when they learn that it might prevent drinking water crises such as the one in Flint, MI.

About the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
AEM is the North American-based international trade group providing innovative business development resources to advance the off-road equipment manufacturing industry in the global marketplace. AEM membership comprises more than 940 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors worldwide. AEM is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with offices in the world capitals of Washington, D.C.; Ottawa, Canada; and Beijing, China.

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