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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will allocate Louisiana $101,243,000 this fiscal year for drinking water infrastructure improvements across the state. This marks the first major investment of funds Louisiana will receive from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Cassidy was a key architect of the proposal and helped shepherd the law through Congress.

“Across the state, local officials prioritize investment in clean water. Often times their tax base cannot support the repairs that need to be done,” said Dr. Cassidy. “These taxpayer dollars coming from the federal government can make these repairs, can help these towns, can provide clean water.”

The funding will go towards improving drinking water infrastructure, including replacing lead pipes, removing contaminants, and ensuring rural and underserved communities have clean drinking water. This funding accounts for fiscal year 2022. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides additional funding each year through 2026, meaning Louisiana can expect to receive similar sums of funding for water infrastructure for the next four years.