[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12429]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    THE YEAR OF SAFE DRINKING WATER

  Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Res. 81, which was reported by the 
Judiciary Committee.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative assistant read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 81) designating the year of 1999 as 
     ``The Year of Safe Drinking Water'' and commemorating the 
     25th anniversary of the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water 
     Act.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and any statements relating to the resolution be printed at the 
appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 81) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 81

       Whereas clean and safe drinking water is essential to every 
     American;
       Whereas the health, comfort, and standard of living of all 
     people in this Nation depends upon a sufficient supply of 
     safe drinking water;
       Whereas behind every drop of clean water are the combined 
     efforts of thousands of water plant operators, engineers, 
     scientists, public and environmental advocacy groups, 
     legislators, and regulatory officials;
       Whereas public health protection took an historic leap when 
     society began treating water to remove disease-causing 
     organisms;
       Whereas over 180,000 individual water systems in the United 
     States serve over 250,000,000 Americans;
       Whereas the Safe Drinking Water Act is one of the most 
     significant legislative landmarks in 20th century public 
     health protection;
       Whereas the enactment of the Safe Drinking Water Act on 
     December 16, 1974, enabled the United States to take great 
     strides toward the protection of public health by treating 
     and monitoring drinking water, protecting sources of drinking 
     water, and providing consumers with more information 
     regarding their drinking water;
       Whereas Americans rightfully expect to drink the best water 
     possible, and expect advances in the public health sciences, 
     water treatment methods, and the identification of potential 
     contaminants; and
       Whereas the continued high quality of drinking water in 
     this country depends upon advancing drinking water research, 
     vigilantly monitoring current operations, increasing citizen 
     understanding, investing in infrastructure, and protecting 
     sources of drinking water: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the year of 1999 as ``The Year of Safe 
     Drinking Water'';
       (2) commemorates the 25th anniversary of the enactment of 
     the Safe Drinking Water Act; and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     year with appropriate programs that enhance public awareness 
     of--
       (A) drinking water issues;
       (B) the advancements made by the United States in the 
     quality of drinking water during the past 25 years; and
       (C) the challenges that lie ahead in further protecting 
     public health.

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