"Even by congressional standards, these investments are expensive and cannot be handled by simply authorizing and appropriating the same or larger amounts of federal funds."
"I think it is important to underscore just what a wide gap exists there, and we must maximize every dollar that we can."
"This was a way to ensure that when we use taxpayer dollars, that those dollars were spent for the highest quality work."
"In my home state of North Carolina alone, there is a documented need of $11 billion for clean water projects."
"According to the EPA's last 'Clean Water Needs Survey Report to Congress,' the total documented needs for sustainable wastewater infrastructure... are at least $270 billion over the next two decades."
"The Clean Water SRF is an example of good public policy that helps keep wastewater costs down."
"The Clean Water SRF program has allowed them to maintain their systems while they pursue long-term solutions."
"Are we concerned that maybe we are putting too much money towards grants movement that way that is going to shortchange us long term?"
"I am actually very passionate about streamlining Government bureaucracy."
"Workers do need protections, not because of the vast majority of contractors, but because there are people that would take advantage of the law."
"I just think it is important that we take a step back as to why we have prevailing wage for projects built with Federal dollars."