[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 86 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 86

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding Federal decisions, actions, 
                    and regulations affecting water.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 15, 1999

Mr. Blumenauer submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
     referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding Federal decisions, actions, 
                    and regulations affecting water.

Whereas watersheds and water issues transcend local, State, tribal, and national 
        boundaries;
Whereas the Federal Government has long been involved in the development of 
        water policy through its management of water resources, its construction 
        of water and navigation projects, and its implementation of Federal 
        regulatory statutes;
Whereas Federal decisions and actions affecting water have focused on addressing 
        a series of engineering challenges rather than implementing a long-term, 
        comprehensive plan developed with adequate coordination among Federal 
        departments and agencies;
Whereas despite devoting years of effort and spending billions of dollars to 
        meet the challenges posed by water issues, the Federal Government cannot 
        guarantee the people of the Nation clean drinking water, reliable flood 
        protection, or lakes and rivers that can support recreation or wildlife;
Whereas despite the fact that public and private entities spent $260,000,000,000 
        between 1970 and 1984 to construct and operate wastewater treatment 
        facilities, it is becoming increasingly difficult to supply the needs of 
        the Nation for safe, clean water;
Whereas despite the fact that the Federal Government spent more than 
        $38,000,000,000 between 1960 and 1985 to control flooding, flood losses 
        in the United States now average approximately $8,000,000,000 each year;
Whereas, when adjusted for inflation, current annual losses due to flooding in 
        the United States are 4 times greater than such losses experienced in 
        the early 1950's;
Whereas fish habitat in more than 50 percent of the Nation's streams suffer from 
        such adverse water conditions as turbidity, high temperature, high 
        concentrations of toxins, and low levels of dissolved oxygen;
Whereas more than 50 percent of the wetlands that existed in the contiguous 
        United States 200 years ago are now gone, greatly diminishing the 
        natural mechanisms of flood control and water cleansing;
Whereas Federal regulations hinder the implementation of innovative strategies 
        that are necessary to meet the water needs of the Nation; and
Whereas comprehensive, innovative watershed plans that recognize the 
        relationship between land use and water must be developed and 
        implemented: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that the departments and agencies of 
the Federal Government should--
            (1) coordinate, to the greatest extent possible, Federal 
        decisions and actions that affect water;
            (2) ensure that each Federal decision or action that 
        affects water promotes, to the greatest extent possible, the 
        use of water in a sustainable manner;
            (3) promote processes for developing comprehensive 
        watershed plans that include all appropriate local and regional 
        governments within watersheds and that consider the 
        implications of land use on water;
            (4) consider the impact on entire watersheds when making a 
        Federal decision or taking a Federal action that affects water;
            (5) promote the involvement of citizen and environmental 
        groups and the business community in watershed planning 
        processes, and provide for such involvement when making a 
        Federal decision or taking a Federal action that affects water;
            (6) establish clear standards for compliance with Federal 
        regulations affecting bodies of water or water supplies; and
            (7) provide flexibility for such compliance, using market 
        forces whenever possible.
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