[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1376-E1377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SAFE AND SECURE DRINKING WATER ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 10, 2014

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Safe and 
Secure Drinking Water Act, an important step to sustain America's clean 
drinking water.
  On August 2, Microcystin-laced, toxic algae overtook the drinking 
water intake process for Toledo, Ohio during an explosion of algae 
growth in western Lake Erie. For three days, half a million Americans 
were without safe drinking water.
  In Toledo, the taps are back on, but the crisis remains.
  The growth of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie will continue to 
threaten communities, local economies, and the 11 million people who 
depend on the lake for fresh water. Until the flow of algae-feeding 
nutrients into the lake is stopped, the risk of further water 
emergencies will persist.
  This concern is not isolated to Lake Erie. Millions of Americans 
across the country rely on drinking water from natural sources that are 
similarly threatened by increasing levels of nutrient runoff, and the 
resulting toxic algal growth.
  Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes harmful 
algal blooms as a major environmental problem in all 50 states, with 
severe impacts on human health.
  Despite this realization, the U.S. EPA fails to take a most basic 
step to protect public safety--setting federal guidelines or standards 
for unsafe consumption levels, testing practices to determine the 
presence of Microcystin in water systems, or feasible treatment 
techniques. Without these basic protections, millions of Americans' 
health is at risk.
  This necessary legislation will compel the EPA to take these 
important first steps within 90 days of its passage, and in the absence 
of regulatory action, to report on additional steps

[[Page E1377]]

to promote safer practices in areas affected by harmful algal blooms.
  Mr. Speaker, our communities across this great nation need this 
guidance and cannot continue to wait. The Safe and Secure Drinking 
Water Act must be passed quickly to provide our communities the 
guidance and answers they need.

                          ____________________