Steil credit – Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin praised $94.3 million in federal drinking-water funding announced by the EPA—money delivered through a federal program created by President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law, which Steil voted against when it passed the House in Nove
On Wednesday, Rep. Bryan Steil posted what he called “Great news for Wisconsin,” sharing a screenshot and a link to an Environmental Protection Agency announcement spelling out a $94.3 million funding award meant to reduce lead in drinking water.
Steil, a Republican, framed it as a win he helped bring home. “Proud to have worked to bring safe drinking water funding to our state,” he wrote on social media.
The federal money, however, is coming from the same law Steil voted against.
The $94.3 million is being awarded to states through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. a financing stream supported by a $15 billion pool established under President Joe Biden’s $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Steil cast his opposition in the House in November 2021, when the legislation passed.
At the time, Steil said, “Today, I voted against the so-called infrastructure portion of Speaker Pelosi and President Biden’s $3 trillion spending agenda.”
He argued that the bill was not paid for and that it would include “Green New Deal subsidies. ” while sending only “a small portion of spending” toward improving roads and bridges. “We should be making investments in our nation’s infrastructure. but through a smart. targeted approach that is focused on real infrastructure. ” he said. He added: “Unfortunately. this bill is not paid for. will fund Green New Deal subsidies. and only directs a small portion of spending towards improving our roads and bridges.”.
Steil also said at the time he would “continue voting against wasteful spending in Washington and protect Southeast Wisconsin families’ pocketbooks.”
When asked for comment, a Steil spokesperson defended the congressman’s record on drinking-water funding. In a Thursday statement, the spokesperson listed Steil’s votes for annual appropriations bills and argued that Steil has supported safe drinking water investment in Wisconsin communities.
The spokesperson said Steil has worked to back and protect the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, “which funds Wisconsin’s Safe Drinking Water Loan Program,” the federal-state program through which the funding is being delivered to Wisconsin.
The spokesperson also pointed to Steil’s advocacy on clean water issues involving Hales Corners, Wisconsin, saying assistance through Wisconsin’s Safe Drinking Water Loan Program helped connect impacted residents to the Milwaukee Water System as they dealt with PFAS contamination.
But the core issue remains: Steil is publicly taking credit for money flowing from an infrastructure bill he voted against.
House Republicans have tried to claim wins from projects funded by the infrastructure law so often that the contrast has become part of the political fight. The funding has drawn repeated accusations that lawmakers were praising benefits while opposing the measure that created the funding.
President Biden has mocked the practice. At a September 2022 event. Biden said with a laugh. “I’ve seen them out there.” He continued: “And now we’re going to build this new bridge here. We’re all for it. And by the way, this new road. And we have an internet that’s going to be all— I love them, man. They ain’t got no shame.”.
For Wisconsin residents drinking water shaped by lead and PFAS concerns. the political messaging may feel distant from the urgency of the problem. Still. Steil’s celebration of the $94.3 million award puts the spotlight on a familiar tension in Washington: whether opposition to a sweeping federal package matters once benefits start rolling into local communities.
Bryan Steil Wisconsin lead in drinking water Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Environmental Protection Agency Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Joe Biden PFAS Hales Corners Milwaukee Water System Safe Drinking Water Loan Program
How is it “safe drinking water” if he voted against it lol
So he opposed the bill but then took credit for the money? Sounds like typical politician math. I’m confused though… is the EPA the one actually doing the work?
He probably didn’t oppose the water part, it was the roads/bridges or whatever. Like, the headline makes it sound shady but maybe the funds are from somewhere else and they’re just saying it’s from Biden. Also lead reduction is good, idc who gets credit.
This is why I don’t trust either side. He’s like “great news” but he literally voted against the infrastructure law, right? Then the article says it’s from a $15B pool and “revolving fund” which sounds like they just recycle money and call it new. Meanwhile people in Wisconsin drinking water with lead, so who cares about Green New Deal wording.