[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           PROTECT OUR WATER

  (Ms. SCHOLTEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I am on the House floor today to talk 
about an element that sustains us all--water.
  My home State of Michigan is surrounded by four out of the five Great 
Lakes--our Nation's largest freshwater reserve. The Great Lakes region 
is home to 51 million jobs and has a GDP of $6 trillion. It is an 
economic powerhouse.
  Yet, despite the abundance of freshwater surrounding us, many of our 
constituents do not have access to reliable and safe drinking water. 
PFAS and lead contamination continue to be an issue for many West 
Michiganders. The Great Lakes are home to one of our Nation's most 
incredible landmarks but are under dire threat from climate change.
  We must protect our freshwater supply nationally and internationally. 
The Great Lakes contain 90 percent of the United States' freshwater 
supply and 20 percent of the global supply. We have to work with 
urgency to protect this precious resource.
  The importance of water nationwide cannot be understated. It is an 
environmental matter, an economic matter, and a matter of national 
security.
  This week, I am launching my work on the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water and the Environment where I will 
work to protect this vital resource, and I invite my colleagues to join 
me.

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