[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H2999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               WATER WEEK

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Water Week in order to 
recognize the critical need for clean water in our Nation.
  In my western New York community, we understand the link between the 
health of the Great Lakes and the economic vitality of our region.
  Studies have shown that nutrients, like phosphorus and nitrogen, are 
the cause of harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes. In order to fight 
this, I have introduced the Great Lakes Nutrient Removal Assistance 
Act, which would provide $500 million in funding to upgrade wastewater 
treatment plants in the Great Lakes Basin with nutrient removal 
technology.
  Madam Speaker, the Great Lakes contain 95 percent of America's 
freshwater, and they supply drinking water to more than 30 million 
people in North America. Additionally, the Great Lakes support 1.5 
million jobs and $62 billion in wages annually.
  The protection of the Great Lakes is essential, and I commend local 
advocates, like the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper and others, who are in 
Washington, D.C., this week for Water Week, as well as those who work 
tirelessly to protect our water resources for the well-being of our 
Nation.

                          ____________________