Lincoln Chafee: “today the Senate has passed S. 811, the Water Desalinization and Research and Development Act. This legislation, which…”

“today the Senate has passed S. 811, the Water Desalinization and Research and Development Act. This legislation, which was approved by the full Senate in both 1992 and 1994, is sponsored by Senators Simon, Reid, Mack, and others. Very briefly, Mr. President, S. 811 authorizes an expanded U.S. research and development program with the goal of producing lower cost desalinization technologies. The bill assigns primary program responsibility to the Department of the Interior, in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers. In addition to the basic research and development program, S. 811 authorizes the development of experimental desalination facilities and requires the Agency for International Development to host a conference for countries either currently using or planning to use desalinization technologies. Mr. President, in the face of growing domestic water shortages, as well as strategic international concerns, this legislation is designed to increase the U.S. commitment to developing more economical desalinization technology. S. 811, as reported, authorizes $5 million in fiscal year 1997 for the basic research and development at the Interior Department; $7.5 million is authorized for this purpose in each of fiscal years 1998 through 2001, for a 5-year total of $35 million. For the facility development program, $40 million is authorized for fiscal years 1997 through 2001.”