[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S10481]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        GULF COAST EMERGENCY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE ACT

  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works be discharged from further 
consideration of S. 1709 and the Senate proceed to its immediate 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1709) to provide favorable treatment for certain 
     projects in response to Hurricane Katrina, with respect to 
     revolving loans under the Federal Water Pollution Control 
     Act, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the amendment at 
the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read the third time and 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 1873) was agreed to, as follows:

              (Purpose: To provide a complete substitute)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Gulf Coast Emergency Water 
     Infrastructure Assistance Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF STATE.

       In this Act, the term ``State'' means--
       (1) the State of Alabama;
       (2) the State of Louisiana; and
       (3) the State of Mississippi.

     SEC. 3. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN LOANS.

       (a) Definition of Eligible Project.--In this section, the 
     term ``eligible project'' means a project--
       (1) to repair, replace, or rebuild a publicly-owned 
     treatment works (as defined in section 212 of the Federal 
     Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292)), including a 
     privately-owned utility that principally treats municipal 
     wastewater or domestic sewage, in an area affected by 
     Hurricane Katrina or a related condition; or
       (2) that is a water quality project directly related to 
     relief efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina or a related 
     condition, as determined by the State in which the project is 
     located.
       (b) Additional Subsidization.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), for the 2-year 
     period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, a 
     State may provide additional subsidization to an eligible 
     project that receives funds through a revolving loan under 
     section 603 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1383), including--
       (A) forgiveness of the principal of the revolving loan; or
       (B) a zero-percent interest rate on the revolving loan.
       (2) Limitation.--The amount of any additional subsidization 
     provided under paragraph (1) shall not exceed 30 percent of 
     the amount of the capitalization grant received by the State 
     under section 602 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
     (33 U.S.C. 1382) for the fiscal year during which the 
     subsidization is provided.
       (c) Extended Terms.--For the 2-year period beginning on the 
     date of enactment of this Act, a State may extend the term of 
     a revolving loan under section 603 of that Act (33 U.S.C. 
     1383) for an eligible project described in subsection (b), if 
     the extended term--
       (1) terminates not later than the date that is 30 years 
     after the date of completion of the project that is the 
     subject of the loan; and
       (2) does not exceed the expected design life of the 
     project.
       (d) Priority Lists.--For the 2-year period beginning on the 
     date of enactment of this Act, a State may provide assistance 
     to an eligible project that is not included on the priority 
     list of the State under section 216 of the Federal Water 
     Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1296).

     SEC. 4. PRIORITY LIST.

       For the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of 
     this Act, a State may provide assistance to a public water 
     system that is not included on the priority list of the State 
     under section 1452(b)(3)(B) of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 300j-12(b)(3)(B)), if the project--
       (1) involves damage caused by Hurricane Katrina or a 
     related condition; and
       (2) is in accordance with section 1452(b)(3)(A) of that Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 300j-12(b)(3)(A)).

     SEC. 5. TESTING OF PRIVATELY-OWNED DRINKING WATER WELLS.

       On receipt of a request from a homeowner, the Administrator 
     of the Environmental Protection Agency may conduct a test of 
     a drinking water well owned or operated by the homeowner that 
     is, or may be, contaminated as a result of Hurricane Katrina 
     or a related condition.

  The bill (S. 1709), as amended, was read the third time and passed.
  Mr. ISAKSON. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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