[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 128 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SANTORUM:
  S. 3207. A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to 
nonprofit organizations to finance the construction, refurbishing, and 
servicing of individually-owned household water well systems in rural 
areas for individuals with low or moderate incomes; to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


                 affordable drinking water act of 2000

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the 
``Affordable Drinking Water Act of 2000.'' This bill sets out an 
innovative approach to meet the safe drinking water needs of rural 
Americans nationwide.
  The Affordable Drinking Water Act of 2000 provides a targeted 
alternative to water delivery in rural areas. Through a partnership 
established between the federal government and non-profit entities, low 
to moderate income households who would prefer to have their own well 
or are experiencing drinking water problems could secure financing to 
install or refurbish an individually owned household well. In my home 
state of Pennsylvania, 2.5 million citizens currently choose to have 
their drinking water supplied by privately-owned individual water 
wells.
  The government assistance envisioned under this bill would also allow 
homeowners of modest means in Pennsylvania, and the rest of the 
country, to bring old household water wells up to current standards; 
replace systems that have met their expected life; or provide 
homeowners without a drinking water source with a new individual 
household water well system.
  Another important component of this legislation will afford rural 
consumers with individually owned water wells the same payment 
flexibility as other utility customers. Centralized water systems 
currently are eligible to receive federal grants and loans with 
repayment spread out over 40 years. The Affordable Drinking Water Act 
of 2000 would provide loans to low to moderate income homeowners to 
upgrade or install a household drinking water well now, and then repay 
the cost through convenient monthly charges. This ability to stretch 
out payments over the life of the loan gives rural well owners an 
affordable option that they otherwise do not have.
  Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce this legislation today, and 
believe that it is appropriately balanced to meet the safe-drinking 
water needs of rural households.

                          ____________________