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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 354 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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;
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
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
    Resolved, That, as the United States marks the 35th anniversary, on 
October 18, 2007, of the enactment of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-500), which formed the 
basis for the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et 
seq.) (commonly known as the ``Clean Water Act''), it is the sense of 
the Senate that all citizens of the United States and all levels of 
government should--
            (1) recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the 
        United States under that Act; and
            (2) recommit to achieving the objectives of that Act of 
        restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and 
        biological integrity of the waters of the United States.
                                 <all>
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