Grace Napolitano: “I thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Craig) for yielding. I rise in very strong support of H.R. 1331, the…”

“I thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Craig) for yielding. I rise in very strong support of H.R. 1331, the bipartisan Local Water Protection Act, and I wish to thank Representatives Craig and Mast for their leadership in introducing this bill that will help many communities in Minnesota, Florida, California, and around the country manage and treat pollution in our rivers, lakes, and seas. The bill authorizes $200 million annually for EPA to provide grants to States to address nonpoint source water pollution. This is pollution that comes when rain runoff carries toxins, fertilizers, metals, and other contaminants from farms, roads, and forests into the water bodies. Today, according to the data provided by the State of California, my home State, approximately 89 percent of my State's assessed rivers and streams currently do not meet the State water quality standards. That is pretty high. And of that number, somewhere between 30 to 60 percent are impaired because of nonpoint sources of pollution in the State, both urban and rural sources. The number is staggering and has remained relatively constant over the past decade. As Mrs. Craig mentioned, States around the country are experiencing the same level of unacceptable pollution entering their waterways, and this bill will address it. Mr. Speaker, I again thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Craig) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr.…”