Mike Levin: “I am very pleased that this year's VA, HUD Appropriations bill contains $1 million for the City of Detroit for the…”

“I am very pleased that this year's VA, HUD Appropriations bill contains $1 million for the City of Detroit for the Detroit River walkway or promenade. The riverfront is a focal point of Detroit's redevelopment efforts in connection with the City's upcoming 300th anniversary and plans are underway to construct an extensive, pedestrian-friendly walkway or promenade along the shoreline. I have personally been able to obtain support from this body for that purpose. The grant provided for in this bill will help defray the costs of the project, such as land acquisition, walkway installation and building demolition, and will help give Detroit a world-class waterfront. We also have before the Senate today two very important amendments to this bill. The first would strike language in the report which delays the Environmental Protection Agency from making a final regulation for arsenic in drinking water. The National Academy of Sciences has found that the current regulations for the levels of arsenic in our water are unacceptable. The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to lower the standard from the current 50 parts per billion to 5 parts per billion.”