Five Water Quality Improvement Bills Approved By Subcommittee
Legislation Will Authorize Programs to Address Sewer Overflows & Inadequate Sewage Treatment Along the U.S.-Mexico Border & Programs To Improve The Nation's Estuaries, The Chesapeake Bay, & Lake Pontchartrain
Washington, D.C. - Five bipartisan bills to address water quality issues regionally and nationwide were unanimously approved by the U.S. House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.
Four of the bills approved were subjects of a Subcommittee hearing last week; the fifth bill (H.R. 4794) was introduced in the House last week.
H.R. 784, the "Water Quality Investment Act of 2003"
H.R. 784, as amended at Subcommittee, reauthorizes section 221 of the Clean Water Act providing authority for $250 million for each of FY 2005 to FY 2010 in grants to municipalities and States to control combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). H.R. 784 was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and 16 cosponsors.
H.R. 4470, reauthorizing the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program
H.R. 4470 reauthorizes the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program within EPA providing for $20 million each year through FY 2010 for restoration projects and studies and public education projects. H.R. 4470 was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. David Vitter (R-LA), U.S. Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA), U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), and U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA).
H.R. 4688, reauthorizing the Chesapeake Bay Program
H.R. 4688 reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program within EPA providing for $40 million each year through FY 2010 in federal assistance for the Program. H.R. 4688 was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), U.S. Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA) and 15 cosponsors.
H.R. 4731, reauthorizing the National Estuary Program
H.R. 4731 reauthorizes the National Estuary Program within EPA providing for $35 million each year through FY 2010. H.R. 4731 was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and U.S. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA).
H.R. 4794, a bill to amend the Tijuana River Valley Estuary and Beach Sewage Cleanup Act of 2000 to extend the authorization of appropriations and for other purposes
H.R. 4794 authorizes $230 million to proceed with an agreement with Mexico that will provide adequate treatment of wastewater in Tijuana, Mexico that flows north into the San Diego, CA area. H.R. 4794 was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), U.S. Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-CA), and U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA).