Tammy Duckworth

This isn`t just about access to abortion. I mean, that, in itself, is more than enough to mount the campaign to codify Roe into law. But think about things that are -- that are dependent on Roe.

If they vote against it, then we just keep putting it on the floor for votes, vote after vote after vote, to make it clear to the American people that what they need to do is vote this November and make sure that we have a majority in the…

They want to distract us, to be focused on something other than the fact that they have successfully mounted this long-term war against the right of women to control their own bodies, and that they’re on the verge of taking away a…

Thank you, Chair Duckworth, for your foresight and your early, consistent efforts to make sure that children are safe and families are protected from the ripple effects of lead poisoning

Will you touch briefly on helping water services cover the costs from the portion of line that goes from the water main to the curb stop or the meter, and where the property owner has to pay to replace the segment of the line that goes…

The fastest way to get money to these States for lead service line replacement was to allocate the funding through the State Revolving Funds

I think that last point is really important, that we understand what the definition of a disadvantaged community is.

One of the main themes was bringing increased grants and lower cost shares so that small, rural, tribal, and disadvantaged communities receive priority in Federal funding programs wherever possible

This is the largest Federal investment in water infrastructure and lead service line replacement in the history of the country, with $15 billion going to States to replace their lead service lines.

I couldn't agree with you more.

Through my DWWIA bill, we are trying to ensure that all communities have increased access to funding.

How are struggling communities ever expected to prosper economically if they do not have functioning drinking water and wastewater infrastructure?

Every American has a right to clean water, no matter their zip code, the color of their skin, or the size of their incomes.

You can't build a tax base if people don't want to move into your community.

One of the biggest motivators for me to draft DWWIA was to increase access to funding for communities who need it the most but often cannot access it.

I think it should be a priority for all States, including my own State of Illinois, although there have been challenges.

Last year, the Senate passed the bipartisan infrastructure law which included the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act.

We must break down barriers for funding to ensure every American has access to clean water.

Years of lack of investment and oversight have led towns all across America to slide into disrepair.

This hearing will examine one of the most pressing issues for communities in Illinois and throughout the Nation, water infrastructure.

Our lack of attention to these communities is not acceptable.

DWWIA is the most significant Federal investment in water infrastructure in history.

The States will have to prepare for these programmic changes and Federal dollars, and that is no small feat.

The narrative that more leases would decrease today's gas prices and immediately help secure energy independence from Russia is also a false narrative.

The ability to produce is not our problem.