[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 110 (Wednesday, August 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. AND 
             INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2002

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                               speech of

                             HON. DAVE CAMP

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2620) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and 
     Housing and Urban Development and for sundry independent 
     agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the 
amendment offered by my colleague from Michigan. The Combined Sewer 
Overflow control grant program invests desperately needed funds into 
our local communities to upgrade dilapidated waste water treatment 
facilities. We can all agree that protecting the safety of our local 
communities' water supply is of vital importance. Unfortunately, many 
cities and towns lack the necessary funds to improve their wastewater 
treatment plans to ensure clean drinking water. Without additional 
funds for the Combined Sewer Overflow control grant program, local 
governments will be forced to curtail critically needed improvements to 
their sewer infrastructure.
  My constituents are contacting me for help to address wastewater 
infrastructure problems in the 4th District of Michigan. This is not, 
however, only a Michigan issue, it is also a problem in many states 
including Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois, 
among others. Given this great need for wastewater infrastructure 
improvements, we must not sit idle on this issue.
  Mr. Chairman, adequate funding for sewer overflow systems is 
essential particularly since the Committee has lowered funds for the 
Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund from $1.35 billion last year 
to $1.2 billion this year. I believe the goal of clean water can 
further be realized if communities have the much-needed federal support 
to fix their sewer infrastructure problems. Local governments are 
facing staggering costs that range in the billions of dollars to 
sustain and improve sewer infrastructure. They are calling on us for 
help. This is an important investment in ensuring environmental quality 
and I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.

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