Edolphus Towns: “I rise in strong support of 2771. This bill is very important to the people of New York. The entire New York delegation…”

“I rise in strong support of 2771. This bill is very important to the people of New York. The entire New York delegation supports this bill. This legislation would reauthorize funding for the New York City Watershed Agreement, helping to ensure safe and healthy drawing for the residents of New York. New York City's vast water supply provides 1.4 billion gallons of high quality drinking water to more than 9 million New Yorkers every day. Nearly 90 percent of those consumers reside in New York City. To supply millions of people with safe, clean water takes an extensive water supply. In fact, the supply consists of 19 reservoirs in a watershed that spans almost 2,000 square miles. It covers 8 counties, 60 towns, and 11 villages in the Catskill Mountain region and the Hudson River Valley. The effective protection of this essential national resource is an enormous challenge. Let me point out that environmental groups worked with New York City, State officials, Upstate communities, and the Federal Government to create the New York City Watershed Agreement.”