October 28, 2011 - Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle is in Washington, DC today to meet with Congressional leaders from Nebraska and Iowa as part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Water Summit.
Mayor Suttle will be meeting today with Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Tom Harkin (D-IA) regarding the Combined Sewer Overflow project, a $1.7 billion unfunded Federal mandate. Yesterday, Mayor Suttle discussed the issue with Representatives Lee Terry (R-NE), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Steve King (R-IA) and Tom Latham (R-NE).
"This is not a one-size fits all problem and cities should strive to find unique, localized solutions to improve their sewer systems," said Mayor Suttle. "We are looking for affordable clean water solutions that incorporate emerging and green technologies to help reduce our flow of sewage."
On Thursday, Mayor Suttle attended a White House reception with President Obama and the National League of Cities. The event focused on improving infrastructure and creating jobs in American cities. "Cities are the engines that drive our national economy," said Mayor Suttle. "The President’s jobs plan will bring much-needed jobs to Omaha and improve the safety of our bridges and streets."
Mayor Suttle will return to Omaha this evening.
The US Conference of Mayors (USCM) promotes the development of effective national urban/suburban policy and seeks to ensure that federal policies meet urban needs. Founded in 1932, the USCM is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more.
