David Minge: “I would like to join in the chorus of others who are praising the work of the committees in reporting out a bill that…”

“I would like to join in the chorus of others who are praising the work of the committees in reporting out a bill that actually addresses problems that many communities around this country have had in maintaining a safe drinking water system and doing so in a way that fits within a budget and reasonable mandates. There are two issues here that affect the legislation that I would like to briefly address. The first is the issue of pork, and I only wish that I had time to read 300 pages and know exactly what the architecture of the grant arrangement is. Let me say, if there is a 75 percent trigger figure or level that has to be reached before any earmarks are implemented, that does not detract, in my opinion, from the adverse nature of earmarking in legislation. Mr. Speaker, I would certainly hope that in the conference committee process this matter is cleaned up. It is nice to have safe drinking water. We want clean drinking water; let us have a clean bill. A second point that I would like to raise has to do with the public right to know.”