February 26, 2002 |
CONTACTS: April Boyd, Rep. Tauscher (202)
225-1880 Rob Ostrander, Rep. Kelly (202)
225-5441 |
House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee Members Introduce Bill to Improve Quality,
Security at Water Treatment Plants
House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee members Congresswomen Ellen Tauscher
(D-Calif.) and Sue Kelly (R-N.Y.), introduced a bill in the House
today that would dramatically increase funding to improve local
water treatment facilities.
The bill, The Clean Water Infrastructure and Security
Improvement Act of 2002, would authorize $25 billion over the next
five years to help cities and counties across the country meet their
clean water needs.
"Wastewater treatment facilities in cities and towns
across the country are in jeopardy because of the federal
government's failure to its part and dedicate all the resources
necessary," said Rep. Tauscher. "Congress has to be certain cities
get the funding they need to keep these essential services up and
running, protect our environment, and even protect the facilities in
the post-September 11 world."
A similar bill has been introduced by Reps. Tauscher
and Kelly before, but the new bill reflects the changes since
September 11 by increasing security around water treatment
centers.
"This program is an excellent example of how all
levels of government can work together to protect the environment
and help safeguard our nation's water supply against terrorism,"
said Rep. Sue Kelly. "These documented needs exist in rural and
urban areas in every state. The expense to our environment and
taxpayers will only increase the longer we procrastinate in
addressing these needs."
The Clean Water Infrastructure and Security
Improvement Act would help bridge the multi-billion dollar gap
between current federal funding and local communities' needs. EPA's
own estimates show that local communities are facing a $330 billion
gap in water infrastructure investments over the next twenty
years.
This problem is exacerbated by the expiration of the
Clean Water State Revolving Fund, an important financing tool that
helps communities and counties meet their growing needs for clean
water by providing them funding to build and maintain a wastewater
infrastructure. Though the program has continued to receive an
annual appropriation from Congress since it expired in 1994, a
staggering disparity remains between the federal investment in
wastewater infrastructure and communities' and counties' actual
needs.
The legislation also establishes a grant program to
help financially distressed communities adequately treat their
wastewater and meet federal clean water standards.
The bill has broad bipartisan support in Congress and
is supported by labor and industry groups, including the AFL-CIO's
International Union of Operating Engineers, the Association of
Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) and the California Association
of Sanitation Agencies (CASA).
Executive Director of the Association for Metropolitan
Sewerage Agencies, Ken Kirk, said, "The Association of Metropolitan
Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) wholeheartedly lends its full support to
the water infrastructure funding bill introduced by Representatives
Sue Kelly and Ellen Tauscher. The bill's significant increases in
federal funding for core wastewater infrastructure repair and
rehabilitation projects and its strong grant component show that the
federal government is set to join municipalities as full partners to
ensure our nation's water quality. I fully expect this bill to
garner the broad bipartisan support it deserves and move quickly
through the House."
David R. Williams, of East Bay Municipal Utilities
District and Chair of the California Association of Sanitation
Agencies' (CASA) Federal Legislative and Liaison Committee said,
"This bill, when enacted, will provide the necessary assurances that
the federal government remains a full partner in the nation's fight
to reverse water quality impairments and restore water quality
infrastructure in California and around the country." He added, "I
applaud the tremendous leadership by Representatives Tauscher and
Kelly on this issue."
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