WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives today voted to pass U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger’s legislation that would provide $1,840,000 to expand the Motts Run Water Treatment Plant in Spotsylvania.

The major funding for Spotsylvania County — which Spanberger successfully secured as part of a House-passed fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations package — would be used to improve water service stability and reliability for the region. Specifically, the funding would be used for costs associated with the National Environmental Policy Act Review and preliminary design engineering work.

“As we rebuild from the pandemic and make our communities more resilient, safe drinking water is a continued and necessary responsibility at the federal, state, and local levels. That’s why I have been proud to work directly with leaders in Spotsylvania County to move the ball forward on expanding the Motts Run Water Treatment Plant,” said Spanberger. “Through this expansion, more Spotsylvania residents will realize the benefits of clean drinking water from the Rappahannock River and the Motts Run Reservoir. I would like to thank the leaders of Spotsylvania County for their commitment to a reliable water supply and for pushing forward a smart investment in the long-term security of the greater Spotsylvania community. In the weeks and months ahead, I will work to keep moving this legislation forward and eventually to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”

“The Motts Run water treatment plant expansion project will increase the plant’s design capacity from 13 to 24 million gallons per day, providing sufficient treatment capacity for the next 30 years,” said David Ross, Courtland District Supervisor, Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors. “This project ensures stability and reliability in delivery of best-quality drinking water to our residents, businesses, and industrial customers now and for future generations.  We are certainly appreciative of the work of Representative Spanberger and her staff in helping us fund this critical infrastructure project.”

The FY2022 appropriations package now goes to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

BACKGROUND

This year, the U.S. House of Representatives implemented a new effort as part of its annual appropriations process, which allowed for specific Community Project Funding requests — like the expansion of the Motts Run Treatment Plant. Spanberger worked directly with community leaders in all ten counties of the Seventh District to gather community-focused requests for her submissions. Click here for a full list of her submissions.

The Community Project Funding process was created to ensure that Members of Congress, in concert with the communities they represent, may submit direct applications for federal funding to support locally planned projects as part of the yearly appropriations process. To be eligible, projects must be sponsored by local or state government entities or non-profit organizations and must be projects that would otherwise meet the qualifications to apply for federal grant funding. The purpose of Community Project Funding is to ensure direct, local engagement as part of the federal appropriations process. In line with this goal, funding applications must demonstrate significant local support for the projects. 

Spanberger has consistently worked to secure funding for Central Virginia projects that would create new jobs, make infrastructure improvements, and strengthen the local economy. Recently, she joined a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House in voting to pass the INVEST in America Act, which includes more than $22.7 million in federal resources for Central Virginia transportation and infrastructure projects that Spanberger successfully secured in the legislation.

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