Political Quotes

“tonight I rise to speak about the pressing need to invest in our aging infrastructure across this great country, especially drinking water infrastructure. What makes the ongoing crisis in Flint so tragic is that it was preventable. Steps could have and should have been taken over months and even years that would have prevented the poisoning of the citizens of Flint. Because these steps were not taken, efforts to mitigate the effects of lead exposure and repair the damage will be necessary for many years to come. Our drinking water supply is largely dependent on systems built decades ago that are now deteriorating. Many of the pipes in some of our older cities were installed before World War II, and many are made of lead. The EPA estimates about 10 million homes and buildings are serviced with lead lines. The American Water Works Association has said that we are entering ``the replacement era.'' Water systems are reaching the end of their lifespan, and we must replace them. We have no choice. If we want to simply maintain our current levels of water service, experts estimate a cost of at least $1 trillion over the next two decades. That is why it is so important that we pass a new Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA. We now have the opportunity and the ability to dedicate resources to Flint and to communities dealing with infrastructure challenges all across our country.…”