III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 354 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 35th anniversary of the 

enactment of the Clean Water Act. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 19, 2007 

Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. VITTER, Mrs. BOXER, and Mr. INHOFE) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the 35th 

anniversary of the enactment of the Clean Water Act. 

Whereas 35 years ago, on October 18, 1972, the Federal 

Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92–500) were enacted; 

Whereas those amendments formed the basis of the Federal 

Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) 

(commonly known as the ‘‘Clean Water Act’’), the principal Act governing water pollution in the United States; 

Whereas substantial improvements to the water quality of the 

United States have resulted from a successful partnership among Federal, State, and local governments, the 

private sector, and the public; 


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•SRES 354 ATS 

Whereas, since 1972, the Federal Government has provided 

more than $82,000,000,000 to States and communities 

for wastewater infrastructure and other assistance; 

Whereas clean water is a natural resource of tremendous 

value and importance to the United States; 

Whereas there is resounding public support for the continued 

protection and restoration of United States rivers, 

streams, lakes, wetlands, and marine waters; 

Whereas maintaining and improving water quality is essential 

to protecting public health, fisheries, wildlife, and watersheds, and for ensuring abundant opportunities for public 

recreation and economic development; 

Whereas it is the responsibility of all levels of government 

and all citizens to ensure the availability of clean water 

for future generations; 

Whereas water pollution problems persist throughout the 

United States, and significant challenges lie ahead in the 

effort to protect and restore the water resources of the 

United States; 

Whereas in the most recent National Water Quality Inventory of the 19 percent of the nations’ rivers and streams 

assessed 45 percent of rivers and streams were impaired, 

of the 37 percent of the nation’s assessed lakes, ponds 

and reservoirs, 47 percent were impaired and of the 35 

percent of the nation’s assessed bays and estuaries, 32 

percent were impaired; the remainder of the assessed waters met their intended uses; 

Whereas further development and innovation of water pollution control programs and advancement of water pollution control research and technology are necessary and 

desirable; and 


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•SRES 354 ATS 

Whereas October 18, 2007, is the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 

U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘‘Clean 

Water Act’’): Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That, as the United States marks the 35th 

2 anniversary, on October 18, 2007, of the enactment of the 

3 Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 

4 (Public Law 92–500), which formed the basis for the Fed5 eral Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) 

6 (commonly known as the ‘‘Clean Water Act’’), it is the 

7 sense of the Senate that all citizens of the United States 

8 and all levels of government should— 

9 (1) recognize and celebrate the accomplish10 ments of the United States under that Act; and 

11 (2) recommit to achieving the objectives of that 

12 Act of restoring and maintaining the chemical, phys13 ical, and biological integrity of the waters of the 

14 United States. 

Æ 


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