Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, S. 914, introduced by my colleague Senator Duckworth. This bill would provide much needed funding for drinking water and wastewater cleanup across the country, addressing climate change and assisting underserved communities. Millions of Americans do not have access to clean water. In California alone, it is estimated that nearly 1 million Californians do not have access to clean water from their tap. California faces unique water challenges, and in the face of climate change, drought per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination, and population growth, my State's aging water infrastructure, like many others, is in need of support. The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act authorizes more than $35 billion for updating and repairing aging infrastructure, and also assisting historically underserved and marginalized communities. Communities of color and low-income communities are more likely to lack the infrastructure to provide safe drinking water to households and prevent water contamination. For example, the farming communities of the San Joaquin Valley face a frequent danger of drought that threatens to dry up their groundwater supply. These predominantly Latino communities also face the threat of growing nitrate levels in their ground water supplies, forcing families to forego using tap water for drinking, cooking, and even showering.…”