III 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 354 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 19, 2007 Mr. Lautenberg (for himself, Mr. Vitter, Mrs. Boxer, and Mr. Inhofe) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Clean Water Act.

Whereas 35 years ago, on October 18, 1972, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92–500) were enacted; Whereas those amendments formed the basis of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) (commonly known as the Clean Water Act), the principal Act governing water pollution in the United States; Whereas substantial improvements to the water quality of the United States have resulted from a successful partnership among Federal, State, and local governments, the private sector, and the public; Whereas, since 1972, the Federal Government has provided more than $82,000,000,000 to States and communities for wastewater infrastructure and other assistance; Whereas clean water is a natural resource of tremendous value and importance to the United States; Whereas there is resounding public support for the continued protection and restoration of United States rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and marine waters; Whereas maintaining and improving water quality is essential to protecting public health, fisheries, wildlife, and watersheds, and for ensuring abundant opportunities for public recreation and economic development; Whereas it is the responsibility of all levels of government and all citizens to ensure the availability of clean water for future generations; Whereas water pollution problems persist throughout the United States, and significant challenges lie ahead in the effort to protect and restore the water resources of the United States; Whereas in the most recent National Water Quality Inventory of the 19 percent of the nations’ rivers and streams assessed 45 percent of rivers and streams were impaired, of the 37 percent of the nation’s assessed lakes, ponds and reservoirs, 47 percent were impaired and of the 35 percent of the nation’s assessed bays and estuaries, 32 percent were impaired; the remainder of the assessed waters met their intended uses; Whereas further development and innovation of water pollution control programs and advancement of water pollution control research and technology are necessary and desirable; and Whereas October 18, 2007, is the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) (commonly known as the Clean Water Act): Now, therefore, be it

That, as the United States marks the 35th anniversary, on October 18, 2007, of the enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92–500), which formed the basis for the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) (commonly known as the Clean Water Act), it is the sense of the Senate that all citizens of the United States and all levels of government should— (1)recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the United States under that Act; and (2)recommit to achieving the objectives of that Act of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the United States.