[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2791]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               THE AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN A. BOEHNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 14, 2000

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Affordable 
Drinking Water Act of 2000. This legislation provides a new and 
creative way to bring safe drinking water in a cost-effective manner to 
those rural Americans who will struggle to meet this most basic need.
  Under the bill, the government, working in partnership with nonprofit 
entities, would assist low to moderate-income individuals secure 
financing for the installation or refurbishing of individual household 
water well systems. The legislation authorizes a public/private 
partnership that allows homeowners of modest means to bring old 
household water well systems up to current standards, replace systems 
that have met their expected life, or provide homeowners without a 
drinking water source with a new individual household water well 
system.
  The Affordable Drinking Water Act is a targeted approach. Only low to 
moderate income Americans who request assistance with their drinking 
water needs are eligible. The traditional federally subsidized long-
pipe water systems run water lines across the countryside in front of 
homes that are experiencing drinking water problems, but also homes 
that are not. The current system serves customers without adequate 
financial means but also many that do not need financial help. This 
lack of targeting federal dollars is often a waste of scarce resources. 
This legislation creates a financing option to install individual wells 
where they make the most economic sense.
  This bill also provides assistance to the drinking water delivery 
option many rural Americans prefer. In a recent national survey, more 
than 80% of well owners prefer their individual household water well 
systems to other drinking water delivery options. Only 8.3% said they 
would rather have their drinking water from a water utility company. 
This legislation gives consumers the ability to pay for new or 
refurbished individual household water well systems with convenient 
monthly payments, like other utility bills.
  It is my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that organizations like the 
National Ground Water Association, a group that has a long and 
distinguished record preserving and protecting America's precious 
ground water resources, strongly endorses this legislation. It is my 
hope that other organizations and communities that support common 
sense, innovative approaches to providing affordable, safe water to 
rural Americans will also endorse the Affordable Drinking Water Act of 
2000.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation that provides a 
cost-effective alternative to meeting the drinking water needs of rural 
America.

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