[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 100 (Tuesday, June 13, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRUMP CUTTING THE EPA WATERSENSE PROGRAM MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL

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                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 13, 2017

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues a 
column written by Mary Ann Dickinson on the importance of the 
WaterSense program, which for ten years has saved consumers money and 
helped to conserve limited water resources.

     Trump Cutting the EPA WaterSense Program Makes No Sense at All

                        (By Mary Ann Dickinson)

       President Trump promised clean water for all Americans 
     while preserving our natural resources. Yet his recently 
     announced 2018 budget seeks to eliminate or drastically 
     curtail programs that do just that.
       It is especially perplexing to see EPA's small but mighty 
     WaterSense program on the chopping block. WaterSense, like 
     its larger predecessor EnergyStar, is a voluntary water 
     product-labeling program that partners with business and 
     communities to enhance the market for water-efficient 
     fixtures and appliances. In this way, WaterSense encourages 
     consumers to purchase products that save water and energy.
       In just ten years since its launch, the WaterSense program 
     has already made valuable contributions to building water 
     security for American communities. It has saved more than 1.5 
     trillion gallons of water, enough to serve all of 
     California's residents for a year. Those savings help protect 
     the nation's water future--ensuring that more water is 
     available for future generations, emergencies and our 
     waterways. Less water used also means less energy used to 
     heat, pump and treat water--thereby eliminating 78 million 
     metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from our atmosphere.
       The blue and green WaterSense logo helps customers easily 
     choose new toilets, showerheads, faucets and irrigation 
     controllers that have been independently certified to perform 
     as well as or better than standard models--while using at 
     least 20 percent less water.
       That choice is good for American families that already 
     spend an average of $1,100 per year on water. In fact, it has 
     already saved consumers $32.6 billion in water and energy 
     bills. With water rates rising each year, WaterSense can help 
     families better manage their household expenses.
       But WaterSense isn't just delivering more reliable and 
     affordable water to consumers; it's actually driving 
     innovation and supporting economic growth--goals at the core 
     of Trump's platform.
       Large American plumbing and irrigation manufacturers have 
     seen their businesses grow by adding WaterSense-labeled 
     products to their portfolios, while start-ups and smaller 
     shops are getting their products to market more quickly, 
     thanks to the clearly defined performance standards and 
     certification process in the WaterSense program. This has 
     resulted in a competitive edge for companies manufacturing 
     American-made WaterSense products. In addition, as water 
     becomes more scarce and expensive, WaterSense can help all 
     businesses reduce their operating costs and increase their 
     resiliency by installing high-efficiency fixtures in their 
     facilities.
       WaterSense isn't a mandatory program or an example of 
     overreaching and costly regulations. It is a voluntary, 
     public-private partnership program where businesses and 
     communities opt in to participate.
       And they have overwhelmingly opted in. More than 1,700 
     partners build their businesses and support their communities 
     by participating in the WaterSense program. Nearly 200 of 
     them recently signed a letter asking EPA Administrator Scott 
     Pruitt to continue to fund it into the future.
       So how much money is it? WaterSense costs taxpayers a mere 
     $3.1 million per year to run--a meager federal expenditure 
     for a significant economic benefit delivered to businesses 
     and individuals. Continued public investment is key. A 
     product labeling program run by the private sector would lack 
     objectivity and credibility to consumers.
       The WaterSense program is the best kind of government 
     program. It leverages a small public investment into big 
     savings for homeowners and businesses, while ensuring secure 
     and sustainable water supplies. Let's make sure it stays in 
     the 2018 budget.

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