[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H4879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CLEAN WATER AND SAFE DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUNDS

  (Mr. McNERNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, during a severe drought crisis, such as 
the one now in California, we must focus on solutions that create water 
and maintain a clean water supply. That is why I am stressing how 
crucial the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Funds 
are.
  Clean and safe water is essential for our homes, farms, and 
businesses. These funds help finance projects that treat domestic 
sewage, capture stormwater run-off, and deliver drinking water to homes 
and businesses. SFR programs are the only low-cost loans available for 
many small- and medium-sized communities to finance clean water 
infrastructure.
  Every dollar that we invest in water infrastructure comes back to our 
economy six times over. Cutting the SFR programs will have a crippling 
effect on our communities' abilities to meet water needs.
  Republicans say they support drought relief. But, in reality, they 
have cut desperately needed funds for both these programs, a 23 percent 
cut in the House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations bill being debated today.
  Congress must provide necessary funding to maintain our Nation's 
aging water infrastructure. Our communities depend upon it.

                          ____________________