[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 69 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS SECURITY ACT OF 2003

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                               speech of

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2003

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 866, 
the Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act of 2003, and I commend 
Chairman Young for sponsoring this important legislation. H.R. 866 
authorizes the EPA Administrator to issue grants for vulnerability 
assessments and security enhancements at our publicly owned treatment 
works facilities. In addition, the legislation calls on the 
Administrator to provide much needed technical assistance regarding 
security measures that can be made to our smaller publicly owned 
treatment works facilities, that is facilities that serve less than 
20,000 people. Lastly, the bill provides critical funding for the 
improvement of the methodologies and tools used to carry out wastewater 
vulnerability assessments.
  Mr. Speaker, ensuring that our wastewater treatment facilities are 
properly protected and secure is a crucial aspect of enhancing our 
Homeland Security. A terrorist attack on a public treatment facility 
could be devastating. I commend Chairman Young for his hard work on 
this legislation, and his efforts to draw attention to the need to 
improve the security of wastewater treatment facilities.

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