[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9461-S9462]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise to raise the awareness of the 
Senate as to the importance of being able to pass the D.C. 
appropriations bill today.
  The reason for that is that we have in this city a serious problem 
with the drinking water. And I will mention that in a little more 
detail in a moment. The bill is at the desk. It has passed the House. 
There is an appropriation in that bill to provide for immediate efforts 
to clean up the serious circumstances with the city's drinking water. I 
do not want to alarm anyone too much, but it is a health hazard to 
certain individuals who have immune problems as well as elderly people.
  In order to correct it, it is going to take some effort from private 
contractors, and it is going to take funds in order to contract with 
respect to certain pumps that may be broken in the efforts to flush the 
pumps out.
  In addition to that, we also have serious problems right now which 
need attention immediately, that is, we have public safety funds which 
have been increased in this bill. We have police cars right now on the 
blocks; we have fire engines in the shop and computer systems in chaos. 
There are funds in the bill which will allow us to do that and to get 
started immediately upon passage of the D.C. appropriations bill.
  Let me read to you from the report on the drinking water matter so 
that everybody is fully aware of the situation the city finds itself 
in:

       The conferees are deeply concerned about recent violations 
     of Federal drinking water standards and continuing problems 
     that beset the drinking water supply and the distribution 
     systems in District of Columbia. The Federal Environmental 
     Protection Agency recently completed a preliminary 
     investigation of the water quality problems attributed to the 
     District water distribution system and concluded that there 
     is an urgent and immediate need for the District to implement 
     steps to assure the integrity of drinking water quality in 
     the District. Among the most important of these recommended 
     actions is that the District hire a private contractor or 
     contractors to flush the drinking water distribution system 
completely and to inspect and repair water valves. The conferees agree 
that there is a strong Federal interest in assuring that those who 
visit, live, and work in the Nation's Capital have safe drinking water. 
Accordingly, the conference agreement includes $1 million in Federal 
funds for this purpose under Amendment No. 2. These funds are provided 
to the Financial Control Board to contract with a private entity or 
entities to conduct an inspection, the flushing and repair work 
recommended by the EPA. The conferees direct the Control Board to 
consult with the Department of Public Works, D.C. Water and Sewer 
Authority, and EPA in implementing this activity. Further, the 
conferees encourage the Control Board to move expeditiously to contract 
for the work in anticipation of the funds provided.

  I just want to point out that if this bill passes, an immediate 
action will be taken to be able to correct the serious problems we have 
with the water in the city. So I hope that it would come to a point 
where we can pass that expeditiously today. The majority leader may or 
may not wish to call it up, but I want to let everyone know I am ready. 
It has passed the House. I want to assure all of the citizens of the 
District as well as those who visit us that we are doing everything 
possible and any delay would, again, impair the safety of certain 
individuals in the District, and I hope that does not occur.
  In addition, we are ready to move on this, and it is important for 
the city to get into a position where they know where they stand. There 
are significant

[[Page S9462]]

differences that have been reconciled in favor of the city with respect 
to the amount of funds that will be available and to other matters.
  So I am hopeful that we will be able to take this bill up. It is 
ready to go. We are ready to act on it now and we could have this down 
to the President for his signature this afternoon if and when it is 
brought up there is no objection, and I hope that would be the case.
  Mr. President, I just hope that everybody is aware of the serious 
problem we are dealing with and that any attempt to forestall this 
would imperil people and I hope that will not occur.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. BURNS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.

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