Cord Byrd: “as the Congress works to provide billions of dollars to address a crisis affecting our neighbors abroad who have had…”

“as the Congress works to provide billions of dollars to address a crisis affecting our neighbors abroad who have had their lives disrupted overnight by raging waters, I have become more and more concerned about another water-related crisis occurring every day in this nation. That crisis is the lack of a safe, reliable supply of drinking water for millions of rural American families. Since 1995, federal data outlining the sorry details of the safe drinking water crisis have been available and, yet, year after year, adequate funding for water and wastewater projects that would solve this crisis is not provided. Last night, my distinguished colleagues joined Senator Stevens and me in sending a message to rural Americans that their crisis is not forgotten. Yesterday evening, the Senate adopted an amendment offered by myself and Senator Stevens to the supplemental appropriations bill that would provide $30 million in additional funds for rural water and wastewater systems. This money would benefit the neediest of rural communities that are affected by extreme conditions that increase the cost of constructing water and wastewater systems, that have a high incidence of health problems related to water supply and poor sanitary conditions, or whose residents are suffering from a high rate of poverty. Within the $30 million in budget authority provided in this amendment, $5 million would be allocated for loans and $25 million for grants.”