[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PROTECT DRINKING WATER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 1996

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend this Republican 
Congress for passing sound, safe, commonsense legislation to ensure 
that America's drinking water is clean and healthy for our loved ones 
and future generations to enjoy. Safe drinking water is of vital 
importance to San Diego, where nearly all of our waters is imported 
from the Colorado River and northern California, crossing many fault 
lines. Because there is such a limited supply of water, San Diegans do 
not take their water for granted. San Diegans, like all Americans, want 
water that is safe to consume.
  One of my priorities in the 104th Congress is to protect the health 
and safety of American families. The House's passage Tuesday of the 
Safe Drinking Water Act amendments (H.R. 3604) sends a clear message to 
families that Republicans are committed to improving and protecting 
water quality and the environment. I am proud to support this 
legislation.
  By passing this legislation, we give State and local water 
authorities the resources they need to keep our water safe. The 
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California supports the bill 
because it will ``enable public water systems to address the highest 
priority water quality issues first.'' The bill contains a strong 
community right-to-know provision, requiring public notification within 
24 hours when water safety violations occur. It focuses resources, 
where they will do the most good, on eliminating contaminants that pose 
the greatest risk to people. Moreover, the Safe Drinking Water Act 
amendments establishes a State revolving fund to help pubic water 
systems comply with drinking water standards.
  This legislation received broad bipartisan support. The Nation's 
Governors, State and county legislators, local water authorities, and 
several environmental groups support our safe drinking water bill. A 
commonsense approach has proven successful in protecting water quality, 
and we can reach consensus on other environmental issues through this 
same approach. I am proud to joining my colleagues in the 
proenvironment Congress in passing H.R. 3604.

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