[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2004

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for investment in the infrastructure that provides our citizens with 
clean and safe water. Our Nation's communities are facing enormous 
needs in their effort to safeguard human health and the environment and 
to comply with Federal environmental mandates. The wastewater 
investment needs in our cities, counties, towns and townships are far 
greater than the amount of money now being made available at the local, 
state, and federal levels. The GAO, the EPA and the Water 
Infrastructure Network have all found shortfalls in wastewater 
infrastructure funding over the next 20 years in the hundreds of 
billions of dollars.
  It is critical for the federal government to do more to help meet 
these needs. Local ratepayers already pay 90 percent of the burden and 
face rising water and sewer rates every year. The federal government 
must once again become a partner with local and state governments to 
provide the necessary funds to protect our watersheds and citizens.
  Additional investment in the Nation's water and sewer systems also 
creates jobs for Americans. For every $1 billion spent on water and 
wastewater construction, 42,000 jobs are created. Billions of dollars 
are needed to help keep our water infrastructure strong and sound. The 
President requested $3.7 billion for water and sewer projects in Iraq, 
highlighting its critical importance to a working society. Yet we are 
neglecting our own wastewater systems here at home.
  We should not allow another Earth Day to pass without making a firm 
commitment to our citizens and our communities. The federal government 
must become a full partner and provide its share of the billions of 
dollars that are needed to safeguard the integrity of our Nation's 
water and wastewater infrastructure.

                          ____________________