[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 21, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S6075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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              NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN WATER AGENCIES

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to recognize and share with 
my colleagues an important milestone for the National Association of 
Clean Water Agencies, NACWA. The association celebrates its 40th 
anniversary at its annual summer conference and meeting July 20 to 23 
in San Francisco. This year's conference, ``Sustainable Resource 
Management--Lessons from Clean Water's Past and Present,'' will surely 
inspire new solutions and innovative ideas to improve our country's 
water quality and protect the health of our children and families.
  Established in 1970 by a group of individuals representing 22 large 
municipal sewerage agencies, NACWA now represents over 300 of the 
Nation's publicly owned wastewater utilities. NACWA grew up alongside 
the landmark Clean Water Act of 1972, which has been enormously 
successful at reducing pollution into our Nation's waterways. The 22 
founding agencies of NACWA united behind a related mission: to secure 
investment in municipal wastewater treatment and improve water quality. 
As NACWA continued to grow and diversify, they have worked to promote 
watershed management and the health of our ecosystems.
  Today, NACWA has an active membership of publicly owned treatment 
agencies stretching from coast to coast. NACWA provides its members 
with educational resources, community building, networking 
opportunities, and a forum for sharing best practices and building 
consensus on water policy.
  I am so pleased to acknowledge NACWA's long and distinguished record 
of environmental advocacy. Clean, safe drinking water is essential to 
all of us. The association has been a leader on a range of issues 
affecting our water supply. Over the course of my career in the Senate, 
I have had the pleasure of working with NACWA on important legislation 
including the Water Infrastructure Financing Act and the Water 
Resources Development Act.
  In 2008, I was honored to receive NACWA's Legislative Leadership 
Award for my efforts on the Water Resources Development Act, WRDA, of 
2007. This historic legislation is of critical importance to our 
Nation's water quality and economy. WRDA 2007 garnered broad support on 
both sides of the aisle, and I am again working with my colleagues to 
pass a WRDA bill that will build on the important progress we made in 
WRDA 2007, continue investment in vital water resources projects, and 
create jobs rebuilding the Nation's aging water infrastructure.
  I commend the members and staff of NACWA for their dedication and 
support for policies that advance clean water and a healthy, 
sustainable environment. Their efforts have certainly had a positive 
impact on our Nation's environmental policy and water quality. I look 
forward to working with NACWA to improve our Nation's water quality, 
ecosystems and infrastructure for years to come by supporting 
legislation that protects our Nation's waterways and water supply. 
Together, we can ensure clean water for future generations. Please join 
me in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the National Association of 
Clean Water Agencies.

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