[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 159 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S13159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 354--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
        35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENACTMENT OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT

  Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. Vitter, Mrs. Boxer, and Mr. Inhofe) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 354

       Whereas 35 years ago, on October 18, 1972, the Federal 
     Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 
     92-500) were enacted;
       Whereas those amendments formed the basis of the Federal 
     Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) 
     (commonly known as the ``Clean Water Act''), the principal 
     Act governing water pollution in the United States;
       Whereas substantial improvements to the water quality of 
     the United States have resulted from a successful partnership 
     among Federal, State, and local governments, the private 
     sector, and the public;
       Whereas, since 1972, the Federal Government has provided 
     more than $82,000,000,000 to States and communities for 
     wastewater infrastructure and other assistance;
       Whereas clean water is a natural resource of tremendous 
     value and importance to the United States;
       Whereas there is resounding public support for the 
     continued protection and restoration of United States rivers, 
     streams, lakes, wetlands, and marine waters;
       Whereas maintaining and improving water quality is 
     essential to protecting public health, fisheries, wildlife, 
     and watersheds, and for ensuring abundant opportunities for 
     public recreation and economic development;
       Whereas it is the responsibility of all levels of 
     government and all citizens to ensure the availability of 
     clean water for future generations;
       Whereas water pollution problems persist throughout the 
     United States, and significant challenges lie ahead in the 
     effort to protect and restore the water resources of the 
     United States;
       Whereas in the most recent National Water Quality Inventory 
     of the 19 percent of the nations' rivers and streams assessed 
     45 percent of rivers and streams were impaired, of the 37 
     percent of the nation's assessed lakes, ponds and reservoirs, 
     47 percent were impaired and of the 35 percent of the 
     nation's assessed bays and estuaries, 32 percent were 
     impaired; the remainder of the assessed waters met their 
     intended uses;
       Whereas further development and innovation of water 
     pollution control programs and advancement of water pollution 
     control research and technology are necessary and desirable; 
     and
       Whereas October 18, 2007, is the 35th anniversary of the 
     enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) (commonly known as the ``Clean Water 
     Act''): Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That, as the United States marks the 35th 
     anniversary, on October 18, 2007, of the enactment of the 
     Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 
     (Public Law 92-500), which formed the basis for the Federal 
     Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) 
     (commonly known as the ``Clean Water Act''), it is the sense 
     of the Senate that all citizens of the United States and all 
     levels of government should--
       (1) recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the 
     United States under that Act; and
       (2) recommit to achieving the objectives of that Act of 
     restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and 
     biological integrity of the waters of the United States.

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