[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 67 (Thursday, May 19, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORT THE SAVE OUR WATERS FROM SEWAGE ACT

  (Mrs. KELLY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong concerns 
about an EPA proposal that would allow local treatment plants to 
discharge inadequately treated sewage into our waterways. It is 
disappointing that the EPA would even consider a policy change that 
would worsen our Nation's water quality and threaten public health.
  I am a cosponsor of the Save Our Waters From Sewage Act to prevent 
the EPA from finalizing this misguided initiative. The mere thought of 
routinely allowing human sewage that is only partly treated to be 
dumped into our local waterways is very disturbing.
  The EPA's wastewater guidelines have generated understandable 
concerns among my constituents in Westchester, Dutchess, and Orange 
counties. They seriously undermine the protections in place for our 
water resources in the Hudson Valley. We have a responsibility to fully 
treat all wastewater.
  We already face enough health and environmental risks in our local 
communities that are beyond our control. It is senseless to initiate a 
new policy that knowingly puts the public at greater health risk. When 
it comes to the safety of our water and our local citizens, it is far 
more important to do what is right than to do what is most convenient.
  I want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Stupak) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), for leading the 
fight to protect public health and prevent the EPA from enacting this 
policy. I urge support for the Save Our Waters From Sewage Act.

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