James M. Jeffords: “However, that slight increase comes nowhere close to meeting the huge water infrastructure funding gap. It comes nowhere…”

“However, that slight increase comes nowhere close to meeting the huge water infrastructure funding gap. It comes nowhere close to meeting the funding levels that were endorsed twice by over one-third of the Senate. Now is the time to increase funding for water infrastructure, not decrease it. We have the opportunity today to make an investment in our Nation's water infrastructure that will protect the gains we have made in the last 30 years. Without this investment, we run the risk of actually increasing the number of polluted waters in the country. Investment in water infrastructure is estimated to create 40,000 jobs for every billion dollars invested. We are proposing to invest $5.2 billion in the State revolving funds. This could create up over 200,000 jobs. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment proposed by the Senator of Maryland.”