[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 13 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H465-H466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 832) honoring the Texas
Water Development Board on its selection as a recipient of the
Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Performance and Innovation Award, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 832
Whereas the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) was
honored as a 2007 recipient of the Environmental Protection
Agency's Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating
Environmental Success (PISCES) Award on November 5, 2007;
Whereas the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)
program in Texas has been a front-runner and a precedent-
setting program in wastewater management for many years, and
its CWSRF leveraging practices as well as other established
management practices are used by many other States as
examples to enhance the management of their funds;
Whereas the CWSRF program in Texas has successfully awarded
communities approximately $4,300,000,000 in low-interest
loans to finance 472 water infrastructure projects across
Texas;
Whereas these projects, which serve approximately one-half
of the population of Texas and treat about 2,100,000,000
gallons per day of wastewater, provide direct environmental
and public health benefits;
Whereas the TWDB is proposing to increase the marketability
and demand for the CWSRF program by pursuing the use of
extended loan terms beyond the authorized 20-year term to a
30-year term;
Whereas the TWDB developed a State Revolving Fund
Information Management System to satisfy the need for more
timely and accurate information on the status of water and
wastewater loan projects as those projects move through the
phases of the preapplication process and beyond;
Whereas the TWDB has actively encouraged asset management
as evidenced by its creation of a Best Management Practices
Guide for water conservation;
Whereas the TWDB established direct authority and
responsibility for the coordination of the CWSRF program by
creating State Revolving Fund Coordinator positions;
Whereas the TWDB's Intended Use Plan Post-Mortem Review was
lauded for identifying various activities that will be used
in improving future CWSRF Intended Use Plan development
processes;
Whereas the TWDB holds interoffice planning meetings that
serve as monthly forums to provide for interoffice discussion
on State Revolving Fund policies, procedures and processes,
and deadlines;
Whereas the TWDB assigned cross-functional,
multidisciplinary teams to manage project performance review
from application phase through construction, and these teams
are responsible for identifying and developing solutions to
project circumstances that may cause a project to fall behind
its schedule; and
Whereas the TWDB was also noted for its outstanding
regional water planning activities, best management practices
in the areas of nonpoint source pollution funding, instream
flow program, work with the United States Army Corps of
Engineers to amend the Federal water resources development
legislation to further enhance its watershed approach,
funding of water reuse projects, agricultural and municipal
water conservation projects, and water conservation education
activities: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) honors the Texas Water Development Board on its
selection by the Environmental Protection Agency as a 2007
Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental
Success (PISCES) Award recipient; and
(2) recognizes the importance of adequate investment and
management of water resources in sustainable development,
including environmental integrity and human health and
overall quality of life in the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr.
Petri) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
{time} 1445
General Leave
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise
and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H. Res.
832.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
The Texas Water Development Board was created in 1957 with the
mission ``to provide leadership, planning, financial assistance,
information and education for the conservation and responsible
development of water for Texas.'' Additionally, the Texas Water
Development Board provides water planning, data collection and
dissemination, financial assistance, and technical assistance services
to the citizens of the State.
The Texas Water Development Board was selected this past November as
a recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 Performance
and Innovation in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Creating
Environmental Success Award at the Council of Infrastructure Financing
Authorities annual conference in Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Speaker, this is extraordinary for Texas because normally we get
on the other end of things of this sort. But the Texas Water
Development Board provides loans and grants to local governments and
entities for various projects.
The financial assistance programs are funded through State-backed
bonds, a combination of State bond proceeds and Federal grant funds, or
limited appropriated funds.
To date, the Texas Water Development Board has successfully awarded
communities approximately $4.3 billion in low-interest loans to finance
472 water infrastructure projects across the State of Texas.
The State of Texas currently administers the second largest Clean
Water State Revolving Fund in the Nation, second only to New York. In
2007 alone, the Texas Water Development Board made 32 loan commitments
through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, for a total of $692
million.
Of the 32 total commitments made out of the Clean Water State
Revolving Fund in 2007, approximately 8 percent of the funds were
committed to disadvantaged communities, and 10 percent were committed
to small communities with populations consisting of less than 10,000
residents.
The Texas Water Development Board is working with the EPA to
strengthen the program, including the ability to offer extended term
financing up to 30 years to help communities that may need more time to
repay the loan. Additionally, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
program is being proactively marketed to ensure that all Texas
communities are aware of the benefits offered by this program. And, Mr.
Speaker, I am delighted to be able to honor such a vital organization
in the State of Texas. It's sometimes a rare occasion.
[[Page H466]]
The Texas Water Development Board is recognized as a leader in the
State water planning and water-related infrastructure financing. I
would like to thank my colleagues from the Texas delegation for joining
me in this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us, House Resolution 832,
recognizes the Texas Water Development Board on its selection as the
2007 recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency's Performance and
Innovation in the State Revolving Fund Creating Environmental Success
Award. This award is given to one State in each of the 10 different EPA
regions and highlights successfully designed projects that further the
goal of clean water.
The Texas Water Development Board was created in 1957 to provide
leadership, planning, financial assistance, information and education
for the conservation and responsible development of water for Texas.
Its mission is a vital part of Texas' overall vision, mission, and
goals related to maintaining the State's natural resources, health, and
its economic development.
To accomplish its goals for the State's water resources and for
providing the portable water and wastewater services, the Texas Water
Development Board provides water planning, data collection and
dissemination, financial assistance, and technical assistance services
to the citizens of the State of Texas.
The tremendous population growth that the State has had and will
continue to experience and the continual threat of severe drought only
intensify the need for the Texas Water Development Board to accomplish
its goals in an effective and efficient manner.
The Clean Water Act State Revolving Loan Fund in Texas has awarded
communities more than $4 billion in low-interest loans to finance 472
water infrastructure projects across the State of Texas. These projects
serve approximately one-half of the population of that State, treat
about 2 billion gallons per day of wastewater, and provide direct
environmental and public health benefits to Texans at large.
In Texas, the Northwest Water Reuse Initiative consists of a $10.7
million project in El Paso County to deliver treated wastewater for
reuse to agricultural, commercial, industrial and residential users
from El Paso's Northwest Water Treatment Plant.
Texas also financed a wastewater reclamation initiative to deliver
reclaimed water from the city of Austin's Walnut Creek Wastewater
Treatment Plant, the first step in the city's development of a
transmission and distribution service, serving customers with reclaimed
water.
This resolution recognizes the importance of Federal-State
partnerships in addressing water resources needs in the United States,
and specifically the effective and efficient manner in which the State
of Texas is managing its State Revolving Loan Fund program.
I encourage all Members to support this project.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 832 recognizes the Texas Water
Development Board on its selection as a 2007 recipient of the
Environmental Protection Agency's Performance and Innovation in the
State Revolving Fund Creating Environmental Success Award. (PISCES)
This award is given to one State in each of the ten different EPA
regions and highlights successfully designed projects that further the
goal of clean water.
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) was created in 1957 to
provide leadership, planning, financial assistance, information, and
education for the conservation and responsible development of water for
Texas. Its mission is a vital part of Texas' overall vision, mission,
and goals related to maintaining the State's natural resources, health
and economic development.
To accomplish its goals for the State's water resources and for
providing affordable water and wastewater services, the Texas Water
Development Board provides water planning, data collection and
dissemination, financial assistance and technical assistance services
to the citizens of Texas.
The tremendous population growth that the State of Texas has and will
continue to experience, and the continual threat of severe drought,
only intensify the need for the Texas Water Development Board to
accomplish its goals in an effective and efficient manner.
The Clean Water Act State Revolving Loan Fund in Texas has awarded
communities more than $4 billion in low-interest loans to finance 472
water infrastructure projects across the State of Texas.
These projects serve approximately one-half of the population of
Texas, treat about 2 billion gallons per day of wastewater, and provide
direct environmental and public health benefits to Texans at large.
In Texas, the Northwest Water Reuse Initiative consisted of a $10.7
million project in El Paso County to deliver treated wastewater for
reuse to agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential users
from El Paso's Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Texas also financed a wastewater reclamation initiative to deliver
reclaimed water from the City of Austin's Walnut Creek Wastewater
Treatment Plant, the first step in the city's development of a
transmission and distribution system serving customers with reclaimed
water.
This resolution recognizes the importance of Federal-State
partnerships in addressing water resources needs in the United States
and specifically the effective and efficient manner in which the State
of Texas is managing its State Revolving Loan Fund Program.
I encourage all Members to support the legislation.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 832, honoring
the Texas Water Development Board on its selection as a 2007 recipient
of the Environmental Protection Agency's Performance and Innovation in
the State Revolving Fund (``SRF'') Creating Environmental Success
Award. This resolution was introduced by my colleague from Texas (Ms.
Johnson), who is Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
In 2005, to recognize outstanding successes of the States' Clean
Water State Revolving Fund programs, the Performance and Innovation in
the SRF Creating Environmental Success Awards, or the ``PISCES''
awards, were created. The Awards recognize successfully designed
projects or organizations that utilize exceptional planning,
management, and financing to further the goals of clean and safe water
for our citizens.
The PISCES award, which is biennially bestowed on one State entity
per region, is an attempt to reward innovation and stewardship in
meeting the Clean Water and wastewater needs of the Nation.
In 2007, the Region 6 recipient of this award was the Texas Water
Development Board.
However, I would be remiss if I failed to also recognize the Region 5
award winner--Minnesota's Agricultural Best Management Practices Loan
Program, operated by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture through
funds and assistance obtained through the Minnesota Public Finance
Authority.
The Texas Water Development Board has managed its funds
exceptionally, awarding communities more than $4 billion in loans to
finance more than 450 water infrastructure projects across the state.
These projects help Texas treat more than two billion gallons of
wastewater per day, resulting in significant environmental and health
benefits.
The Board has also been an active partner with the Committee and
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment--twice testifying
before the Committee on issues ranging from the enormous nationwide
need for wastewater infrastructure investment to the long-term
stewardship of water resource measures through thoughtful, statewide
watershed planning.
I support this resolution honoring Texas' water and environmental
management, and urge my colleagues to agree to the resolution.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further
requests for time, and I simply want to ask everyone to support the
resolution.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 832, as
amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
The title of the resolution was amended so as to read:
``Honoring the Texas Water Development Board on its selection as a
2007 recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency's Performance and
Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success Award''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________