[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 56 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IMPROVING FEDERAL FINANCING FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE TERRITORIES

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                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 2, 2009

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have introduced two bills to 
increase the percentage of clean water state revolving loan funds and 
drinking water state revolving loan funds annually reserved for 
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 
(CNMI), Guam, and the Virgin Islands under the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act respectively. The effect of 
these bills would be, if enacted, to increase by approximately 50% the 
amounts of federal funding awarded by the United States Environmental 
Protection Agency (USEPA) annually under these state revolving loan 
funds to each of the governments of these territories to help them 
finance critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
  I am joined by my colleagues from the territories, Mr. Faleomavaega 
of American Samoa, Mrs. Christensen of the Virgin Islands, and Mr. 
Sablan of the Northern Mariana Islands, in introducing these two bills. 
H.R. 1889 would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with 
respect to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and H.R. 1890 would 
amend the Safe Drinking Water Act with respect to the Drinking Water 
State Revolving Fund. These bills help ensure that all Americans, 
including our constituents, enjoy access to clean and safe drinking 
water.
  Specifically, H.R. 1889 and H.R. 1890 would require the reservation 
of one half of a percent of amounts made available each fiscal year for 
grants to the states and territories under both revolving funds. 
Currently, the four territories are limited by statute to a third of a 
percent of total funding, meaning that they actually receive less on a 
per capita basis than a number of states. This inequity persists in 
spite of the fact that the territories have some of the most severe 
needs for federal assistance for clean water and drinking water 
infrastructure projects. With respect to the Pacific territories, the 
USEPA generally estimates that over 25% of the population lacks access 
to sanitary drinking water. That figure is a mere 0.6% nationwide. 
Furthermore, federal courts have ruled that the territories' water and 
wastewater systems are in non-compliance with federal laws and 
regulations and have ordered a wide range of improvements and upgrades. 
However, the territorial governments are currently challenged in 
financing these court-ordered projects as a result of budget shortfalls 
and declining revenues associated with the economic downturn. As a 
result, the territorial governments remain, in certain cases, unable to 
comply with the court mandates without risking bankruptcy. In sum, the 
very regions of the United States that have the direst need for 
assistance in financing water and wastewater infrastructure are limited 
by federal law to a diminutive fraction of a percent of total funding. 
In contrast, each state is guaranteed under the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to receive each fiscal year 
no less than a full one percent of total funding irrespective of need 
or population.
  Madam Speaker, raising the cap on funding made available to assist 
the territories from a third of a percent to one-half a percent would 
be a significant step toward fulfilling critical needs for new 
infrastructure in the territories. A one-half of a percent funding 
level is consistent with funding set-asides for the territories under 
other laws enacted by Congress governing formula grant programs. 
Finally, because the states are each guaranteed a minimum level of 
funding as opposed to the ceiling set on the territories, these bills 
will not significantly impact funding made available to help finance 
projects in the rest of the United States.
  In effect, raising the cap from a third of a percent to a half a 
percent involves less than five one-thousandths of one percent of the 
federal budget. It would, however, have a tangible and measurable 
impact on the health and quality of life for hundreds of thousands of 
American citizens and nationals residing in the territories. Madam 
Speaker, I urge a thorough review of this issue and these bills by the 
committees of jurisdiction.

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