- By Marion Read
- News
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"Upstate New York is known for its natural beauty, from the Finger Lakes to the lakes and streams of the Adirondacks," said Arcuri. "Clean and safe water must be one of our top priorities and this legislation enables communities throughout Upstate New York to invest in much needed water infrastructure."
Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2007 (H.R. 700), which reauthorizes a pilot program for increasing usable water supply. Yesterday, March 7, the House also passed the Water Quality Investment Act of 2007 (H.R. 569) which reauthorizes sewer overflow control grants for municipalities and states. Combined, these two bipartisan bills would help states and municipalities provide safe, clean, and environmentally sound water.
"Many Upstate New York communities have to operate with old and antiquated sewer and wastewater systems. In recent years, my hometown of Utica, along with many other communities in the 24th district, faced problems due to outdated infrastructure in desperate need of repair," Arcuri said. "For the last two days the House of Representatives has taken concrete steps towards improving our wastewater and clean water infrastructure."
As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Water Resources and Environment subcommittee Arcuri supported this legislation throughout the hearing and committee markup process.
H.R. 569 authorizes $1.7 billion over the next five years for grants to prevent hazardous sewer overflows. H.R. 700 authorizes a total of $125 million to fund projects that increase usable water supply by encouraging innovation in water reclamation, reuse and conservation.
Past Congresses have authorized sewer overflow control grants and the water resources pilot program, but they were never appropriated funds and were allowed to expire.
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