Political Quotes

“To date, the National Estuary Program covers 28 unique coastal habitats nationwide, and with passage of this, it would add another one. The Columbia River Basin is one of our largest watersheds. The Great Lakes are the largest system of fresh surface water in the world. The Long Island Sound provides benefits to millions of residents in New York and Connecticut, and it is habitat to more than 1,200 invertebrates, 170 species of fish, and dozens of species of migratory birds. These water bodies are worth protecting, and there are major economic, recreational, and human health benefits to restoring them all. Further, as the weather warms up, I know we are all looking forward to visiting our favorite beaches and coastal areas, which means that we need to know that our coastal waters are safe from contaminants. This bill pulls together reauthorizations of five critical programs, all of which are broadly supported by Members on both sides of the aisle. The bill provides these programs with 5 additional years of flat funding and also ensures the GAO evaluates the continued success of each of EPA's geographic programs. The American Water Stewardship Act is just that: thoughtful stewardship of our most critical water resources. I support this bill, as amended, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.”