[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E251-E252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION RESEARCH ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. PHIL GINGREY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2009

  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
631--the Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act. I commend 
my colleague--Mr. Matheson of Utah--for crafting this thoughtful 
legislation that was reported to the House on a broad bipartisan basis.
  Over the past couple of years, my home State of Georgia--and 
specifically my district--has experienced significant and historic 
drought conditions that have brought to the forefront what the future 
may hold for our local water supply.
  In addition to the drought conditions in my district, a number of 
other states are facing similar challenges. Over the next five years, 
more than half of the states in our country anticipate some sort of 
water shortage that will wreak havoc on our environment, as well as our 
economy. In these currently tumultuous economic times, we need to take 
every step possible to efficiently use our water supply to assist our 
struggling economy.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 631 promotes the adoption of emerging technologies 
to help us make better use of one of our most precious resources--
water. This legislation addresses ways in which the Environmental 
Protection Agency can use its Office of Research and Development to 
promote technologies that increase water efficiency and conservation 
via collection, treatment, and reuse of rainwater

[[Page E252]]

and greywater, and research on water storage.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time when water shortages are becoming more 
commonplace in our Nation, I applaud the bipartisan work of the Science 
Committee under the leadership of Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member 
Hall on this important legislation. They understand the need for us to 
work across the aisle on these important issues, and I commend them 
both for their leadership.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 631.

                          ____________________