[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 21 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST FUND ACT

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 4, 2016

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, water infrastructure is a local issue--
from a giant sinkhole in Gresham, OR, to poisoned water in Flint, MI. 
For too long, we've let critical water systems simply fall apart. The 
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave our nation's wastewater 
and drinking water infrastructure a grade of ``D'' in their most recent 
report card. While our clean water needs are estimated to be nearly $15 
billion a year, appropriations for clean water infrastructure have 
averaged less than over $2 billion a year since 2000. Drinking water 
infrastructure is in no better shape. The EPA estimates that we need to 
invest over $19 billion annually to ensure the provision of safe tap 
water, while Congress appropriates less than $1 billion.
  As seen by the recent lead water crisis in Flint, MI, the costs of 
inaction are not just numbers in a needs assessment. Our failure to 
adequately invest in aging infrastructure is having detrimental effects 
on our health and economy. Last year alone, Americans across the 
country suffered from more than 240,000 water main breaks and saw 
overflowing combined sewer systems--causing contamination, property 
damage, disruptions in the water supply, and massive traffic jams.
  In order to address this, the Water Infrastructure Trust Fund Act 
will provide needed revenue for states and local governments to make 
overdue investments in wastewater and drinking water infrastructure and 
will also take a hard look at the systemic challenges affecting access 
to safe water in low-income populations.
  The Water Infrastructure Trust Fund Act allows businesses to choose 
to place a small label on their products indicating their commitment to 
protecting America's clean water, contributing $0.03 to the Water 
Infrastructure Trust Fund for each unit bearing the label. The Trust 
Fund revenue will be distributed to the states as grants and loans 
through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking 
Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) to help public water systems finance 
wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects. The legislation 
also commissions an EPA study of the water affordability gap facing 
low-income populations and an analysis of solutions to systemic 
barriers affecting access to safe water systems.
  Congress must do more, not only to meet the huge need for water 
infrastructure investments, but also to understand why failing 
infrastructure hits the most vulnerable communities the hardest.

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