Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today announced that the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate passed the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority Independence Preservation Act (H.R.5778). The legislation, authored by Van Hollen, would amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to establish the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority's (WASA) independence from the Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia (D.C. CFO).
Authority over WASA would be returned to an independent Board of Directors consisting of representatives from the Washington metropolitan area. In 1996, power to control WASA was given to the independent board after allegations of financial and personnel mismanagement by the D.C. government.
Last year, the D.C. City Council passed two laws that compromised WASA’s independence. The first granted the D.C. CFO oversight authority over WASA. The second awarded residents of the District of Columbia a personnel preference in WASA’s hiring. Van Hollen’s legislation reverses these provisions. WASA’s suburban partners in Maryland and Virginia contribute more than $100 million to WASA each year, and 63% of WASA’s employees reside in Maryland.
For nearly one year, Van Hollen has worked with D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Congressman Tom Davis and other regional partners to restore WASA’s independence.
“This bill is essential to restoring the independence and financial integrity of the Water and Sewer Authority,” said Congressman Van Hollen. “WASA must serve the needs of the entire region and not become the puppet of one jurisdiction alone.”