[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 19, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S8490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. OBAMA:
  S. 1426. A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reauthorize 
and extend provisions relating to contaminant prevention detection, and 
response; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Drinking 
Water Security Act of 2005.
  This bill would reauthorize a portion of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 
first enacted in 2002, that instructs the Environmental Protection 
Agency, EPA, and the Centers for Disease Control to develop the tools 
needed by American drinking water systems to detect and respond to the 
introduction of biological, chemical, and radiological contaminants by 
terrorists. My bill also would require EPA to report on its progress in 
developing and implementing these detection and response systems since 
2002.
  Like most Americans, I want to rise in the morning, make some coffee, 
and take a shower without worrying if that water has somehow been 
tampered with overnight by terrorists. Safe drinking water is something 
we traditionally have taken for granted in this country. This bill will 
continue the good work our scientists have been doing to monitor, 
detect, and negate any chemical, biological, or radiological agents 
that terrorists could introduce into our drinking water, should they 
manage to get past our physical security measures. This bill would also 
help implement appropriate warning systems in the event of a terrorist 
attack on our water systems.
  I do not want to be an alarmist. But, September 11 changed Americans' 
views on the possibility of the improbable and turned our focus to 
preparedness. This bill is all about preparedness. It provides the 
authorization and oversight needed to continue to develop those tests 
and responses so we can stay one step ahead of potential terrorists.
  I hope all of my colleagues join me in supporting this commonsense 
bill and ensuring that our drinking water remains safe.

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