[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 184 (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 2, 2023

  Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Chair, today I rise in support of my 
amendment to H.R 4821, Amendment No. 34.
  This amendment highlights the pressing need to address the affordable 
drinking water crisis afflicting over a million American women, 
children, and families. Water is a foundational building block for 
healthy and thriving lives, yet far too many people struggle to afford 
this basic and essential need. Providing robust funding for the 
Environmental Programs and Management account will enable the 
establishment of the much-needed federal low-income water program pilot 
authorized in section 50108 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 
Act (IIJA) and bring us closer to affordable clean water for every 
American.
  For decades, there have been federal assistance programs to help low-
income individuals afford essentials such as housing, food, and home 
energy bills. But no such equivalent program exists for access to 
water. State-level low-income water assistance has therefore become a 
critical lifeline for vulnerable families struggling to pay bills and 
maintain access to water services, yet the lack of federal support 
hamstrings state efforts to assist all those with limited access to 
clean drinking water. To address this glaring programmatic gap, IIJA 
authorized the creation of a rural and low-income water assistance 
pilot program upon completion of an accompanying needs assessment at 
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To date, this needs 
assessment has not been completed. This needs assessment is critical to 
the establishment of the water assistance program because it will give 
the EPA and Congress the insight they need to better understand this 
important issue and take steps towards the creation of a nationwide, 
permanent low-income assistance program.
  Water bills have become increasingly expensive, placing greater 
burdens on families that already struggle to afford their water bills. 
A 2019 survey found that U.S. households in the bottom fifth of the 
economy spent 12.4 percent of their disposable income on water and 
sewer services. In recent years, this statistic has increased steadily. 
No one should have to decide between paying their water bill or buying 
groceries to feed their family. Historic investments were made in IIJA 
and it is the duty of Congress and our federal government to ensure 
these dollars are reaching the people and households it was intended to 
help. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the 
Administration to help our communities access critical support systems.

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