Date: 2007-03-09
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chairman. thanks to the chairman of our committee. I rise in strong support of H.R. 720. the Water Quality Financing Act of This essential legislation reauthorizes the Federal grant program for capitalizing State revolving funds at $14 billion over the next 4 years. while providing States with additional flexibility in the types of projects they finance. The bill also provides States with increased flexibility in the financing packages they can offer to cities and local communities. including principal forgiveness. negative interest loans. or whatever other financing mechanism might be necessary to assist communities in meeting their water quality infrastructure goals. The flexibility afforded by this bill will go a long way in helping many of our communities that are least able to afford necessary improvements to their water infrastructure systems. This legislation also encourages communities to consider innovative and alternative technologies for addressing ongoing water quality concerns.-Iincluding the socalled "green infrastructure." and provides financial- incentives for implementing these technologies that may result in greater longterm environmental benefits. In my State. few Federal programs have proven as effective as the Texas Clean Water State Revolving Fund program in realizing congressional goals for all citizens. The key to its success has been the partnership between the Texas and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency working together in blending State and Federal resources to provide sustainable funding sources. This funding source provides a significant financial incentive for communities to construct. rehabilitate.. and enhance wastewater systems that support the goals of the Clean Water Act. Since its inception in 1987. the State revolving fund has successfully. awarded communities approximately $4.3 billion in lowinterest loans to finance 472 water infrastructure projects across the State. These projects. which serve approximately onehalf of the Texas population and treat about 2.1 billion gallons per day of wastewater. provide direct environmental and public health benefits by protecting our water resources throiugh the reduction of pollutants entering the water. The projects are made economically. viable because Texas customers realize a direct cost savings by assessing the State revolving funds at rates below market rates. Madam Chairman. it has been 20 years since Congress last authorized appropriations for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. and almost 10 years since the Committee on Transportation Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources first investigated the growing need for it. Fortunately. we have overcome one hurdle that has prevented this legislation from coming to the floor over the past 8 years. and I applaud the leadership of the Chairman of the Committee on Transportation -and Infrastructure. Mr. OBERSTAR. as well as the committee staff for their good works in moving this legislation out of Committee and on to the House floor. Now. Madam Chairman. it is past time for this Congress to complete its task in sending this legislation to the President. I urge my colleagues to strongly support this legislation. its time we make our domestic infrastructure programs a priority again.