[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5824]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             THE GET ARSENIC OUT OF OUR DRINKING WATER ACT

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                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 4, 2001

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Get Arsenic 
Out of Our Drinking Water Act.'' This legislation is necessary in order 
to prevent the Administration from irresponsibly weakening safe 
drinking water standards for arsenic.
  Without question, safe drinking water is critical to protecting 
public health. Yet two weeks ago we witnessed an extraordinary reversal 
in our nation's commitment to safe drinking water. Following extensive 
lobbying by special interests who contributed millions of dollars in 
campaign contributions, the Bush Administration revoked the new safe 
drinking water standard for arsenic. This decision threatens the health 
of millions of Americans who now drink water with elevated levels of 
arsenic.
  In response to this indefensible action, I--along with one hundred 
and sixty of my colleagues--are introducing legislation that will 
codify the standard so that the Bush Administration will not have the 
authority to revoke it.
  In January, the EPA responded to the scientific consensus on the 
health effects of arsenic and ordered that arsenic levels be reduced to 
10 parts per billion. EPA took this action in response to a National 
Academy of Sciences report that recommended that the 1942 standard of 
50 ppb be reduced ``as promptly as possible.'' The Academy determined 
that arsenic is an extremely potent carcinogen that causes bladder, 
lung, and skin cancer and may cause kidney and liver cancer, birth 
defects, and reproductive problems. By adopting this updated standard, 
the United States joined the rest of the developed world with an 
arsenic standard that will protect the public's health.
  The ``Get Arsenic Out of Our Drinking Water Act'' will protect the 
public health by codifying the new arsenic standard. It will also 
double the existing State Revolving Fund authorization to $2 billion 
annually, so that public water systems will have funds to meet the new 
arsenic standard.
  Since President Bush took office, the Administration has released 
anti-environmental initiatives at an alarming rate. The 
Administration's decision to revoke the arsenic standard for safe 
drinking water is one of the most egregious. American citizens deserve 
to have safe drinking water. I urge my colleagues to support this 
important legislation.

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