Lincoln Chafee: “I wish to register my opposition to the Kyl amendment No. 1050 to H.R. 2361, the Senate Interior Appropriations bill.…”

“I wish to register my opposition to the Kyl amendment No. 1050 to H.R. 2361, the Senate Interior Appropriations bill. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program is essential for protecting public health, watersheds, and the natural environment by providing critical federal seed money for the maintenance and improvement of water infrastructure. Despite important progress in protecting and enhancing water quality since the enactment of the Clean Water Act in 1972, serious water pollution problems persist throughout the Nation. The need for continued Federal investment in the Nation's water infrastructure is undeniable. The Environmental Protection Agency's September 30, 2002 Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis found that there will be a $535 billion gap between current spending and projected needs for water and wastewater infrastructure over the next 20 years if additional investments are not made. In November 2002, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the annual investment in clean water infrastructure needs to be at least $13 billion for capital construction and $20.3 billion for operation and maintenance. The Kyl amendment would restructure the current formula for distributing federal funding to the states under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, SRF, Program.…”