On the recordMarch 8, 2011
I will say that one key aspect is that the House Republican budget would cut $2 billion from EPA's clean water and safe drinking water infrastructure loan programs. As I am going around my State, holding a townhall in every single county, I hold a meeting with the city and county leaders in advance of the public meeting. At virtually every one of these gatherings, I hear stories from mayors and chairs of county councils who talk about the challenge they have with their aging infrastructure, both on their water supply and on their wastewater disposal; and that aging infrastructure needs to be upgraded as plants wear out and as we discover more challenges we need to address. So cutting the loan program that supports our communities--our rural communities, our suburban communities, our urban communities, all of our communities--in providing clean water to the residents and of helping dispose of and treat wastewater would be an enormous mistake. That partnership is absolutely crucial to communities that cannot otherwise afford this infrastructure. That would mean more sewage and other pollution going into our water ways and less treatment of water we take out to drink.
