[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 158 (Thursday, October 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT

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                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 18, 2007

  Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 35th 
anniversary of the passing of one of the most important laws in this 
country: the Clean Water Act.
  The Clean Water Act is a keystone law for the protection of our 
Nation's waters. This law ensures water quality for a healthy 
environment, the vitality of plant and animal species and most notably, 
it is fundamental to public health and our survival.
  Two-thirds of cities in the United States draw their water from 
rivers, and our health relies on the health of the rivers. An entire 
generation has grown up in this country taking for granted the 
cleanliness of our Nation's waters. For us, it has been as easy as 
turning on the faucet for a glass of clean, safe drinking water. And I 
am confident that without the Clean Water Act, this would be in 
jeopardy.
  The Clean Water Act, using both regulatory and non-regulatory tools, 
has reduced pollution in our waterways. The act established the basic 
structure for regulating pollutants and gave the Environmental 
Protection Agency the authority to implement pollution control 
programs. The act brought us water quality standards and made it 
unlawful for any person to discharge any pollutant into navigable 
waters at any time.
  My home State of Oregon has worked hard to do its part in solving its 
water pollution problems, and no city has done more to advance 
innovative strategies to mitigate storm water run-off pollution than 
Portland, Oregon. Run-off is a serious threat to our water quality. In 
fact, runoff from roads is responsible for 80 percent of the 
degradation of the Nation's surface water.
  Portland has been making an extraordinary investment toward a 
comprehensive Greenstreets Implementation Program that will reduce 
impervious surfaces, treat and filter storm water at its source, reduce 
demands on the city's collection system, support regulatory compliance 
and enhance watershed health. In short, greenstreets filter storm water 
before the water soaks into the ground, pours into a river or ends up 
in the sewer system. The city of Portland estimates that its green 
street projects reduce pollution in runoff by up to 90 percent.
  Greenstreets also save money for sewer ratepayers and taxpayers. 
According to the city of Portland, traditional pipe and stormwater 
disposal systems can cost up to twice as much as green streets. What 
more could you ask for: safe drinking water and clean rivers, at less 
cost to the taxpayer.
  Portland is a national leader in this and will continue to be a 
laboratory for techniques that other jurisdictions can use to meet 
regulations of the Clean Water Act. It is through these innovative 
technologies and techniques that the Clean Water Act will continue to 
meet its mission to provide the public with safe, clean drinking water.

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