James Barcia: “I am extremely pleased that H.R. 828, the Wet Weather Water Quality Act of 2000, has been included in this measure. I…”

“I am extremely pleased that H.R. 828, the Wet Weather Water Quality Act of 2000, has been included in this measure. I would like to thank Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member Oberstar and my Subcommittee Chairman Mr. Boehlert, and Ranking member Mr. Borski for their support and dedication in moving this important legislation forward. H.R. 828 enjoys strong, national bipartisan support, with almost 70 cosponsors. As the primary sponsor of H.R. 828, I am pleased to have played a role in halting and reversing the Federal Government's decade-long disinvestment in municipal water quality infrastructure needs nationwide. While the funding this important legislation calls for will be helpful, it is only a start given the immense water quality infrastructure needs that we face as a nation. My hope is that the 107th Congress will continue to address this critical issue which affects all Americans--in as strong a bipartisan manner as we witness today in passing H.R. 828 as part of the last Act of the 106th. In addition to authorizing infrastructure funding for CSO and Sanitary Sewer Overflow control programs nationwide, H.R. 828 also will codify EPA's 1994 National Combined Sewer Overflow Policy. This is a step that has been proposed by both sides of the aisle since 1995. I am pleased it will become a reality today. The National CSO Policy provides a proven roadmap for America's communities with combined sewers to follow as they strive to implement CSO controls.…”