[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H2594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RENEWING AMERICA'S FAILING WATER SYSTEMS

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, we must act swiftly and with boldness to 
renew America's failing water systems.
  We know the heartache of failing water systems all too well: lead, 
PFAS, disruptive water main breaks, and unaffordable bills.
  Yesterday, I introduced bold national drinking water legislation, 
written with my friend, the chair of the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, Frank Pallone, to restore America's most critical 
infrastructure, and one of our most basic responsibilities of 
government, our drinking water systems.
  The AQUA Act delivers on President Joe Biden's promise to remove 
every lead service line in the country, including removing lead from 
the drinking water systems of some 400,000 schools and childcare 
centers.
  Our bill invests heavily in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, 
to put resources in the hands of folks on the ground who know what 
their communities need.
  It delivers a financial lifeline to local water systems in return for 
a multi-year commitment that they will not shut off anyone's water 
because of financial hardship during this devastating and prolonged 
pandemic.
  Let's rise to meet the moment. Let's do our jobs. Let's build back 
the right way so every American can use and trust the water coming out 
of our taps.

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