Ep. 22: Mae Stevens - Building the Case for Water on Capitol Hill
If I were to write a list of all the tricks we’re missing in water, it would be a lot, and somewhere near the very top would be lobbying - engagement with government on the federal and state level. I recognize we've made a lot of progress in the last five or six years in terms of securing capital for the required infrastructure renewal in the US, but there is a hell of a long way to go. But I look over the fence at energy, both legacy and renewables, healthcare, insurance, biotech, down to the gun lobby, and I can't help but think there is a massive gap between how effective we are in water and how effective we could be and how much more support for the fundamental molecule we would get if we were. Mae Stevens is a specialist lobbyist for water at Banner Public Affairs, and she recently joined us for our Founder Forum in DC alongside fellow lobbyist and longtime friend of BIV, Dan Kidera. She and he, they were both so good, and I wanted to have her on The Fundamental Molecule to help demystify this murky area of water at scale. Please enjoy my conversation with Mae Stevens.
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Full show notes and links to mentioned content below.
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Mae Stevens explains the crucial role of lobbying in shaping water infrastructure's future. She explores how advocacy affects water funding, the need for innovative technologies, and how government and entrepreneurship drive this trillion-dollar industry. Mae highlights the bipartisan nature of water legislation and stresses the importance of ongoing investment, offering aspiring entrepreneurs advice on navigating regulations and engaging with policymakers.
00:00 Introduction to Water Technology and Entrepreneurship
00:49 Importance of Lobbying in Water Sector Progress
01:58 What Lobbying is and Why It's Misunderstood
02:24 How Lobbying Works in Practice
03:58 First Amendment Rights and Lobbying
04:24 Mae’s Early Career on Capitol Hill and Lobbying Lessons
07:37 Why Water Infrastructure is a Powerful Focus
09:53 Increasing Federal Investment in Water Infrastructure
11:13 The Bipartisan Rise in Water Infrastructure Spending
12:29 Infrastructure Funding Gaps and Future Challenges
13:34 Why Water Infrastructure Needs Continued Investment
15:19 Innovation as Key to Efficient Water Infrastructure
17:31 Role of EPA vs Congress in Driving Water Innovation
18:57 How Startups Can Engage in the Lobbying Process
23:03 Practical Example of Lobbying for Water Filtration Regulation
26:20 Lack of Coordination in the Water Sector Compared to Energy
29:13 Strategies for Elevating Water Infrastructure on Capitol Hill
32:51 How Lobbyists Engage with Congress to Influence Policy
33:56 Future of Water Infrastructure Under Harris vs Trump
35:55 Key Advice for Aspiring Water Entrepreneurs
