House Proceeding on Mar 12th, 2009 :: 0:21:35 to 0:28:30
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0:21:15 to 0:21:35( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from florida, mr. diaz-balart. all time yielded ding consideration of the rule is for debate only. i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials into the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. arcuri: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the

0:21:35 to 0:28:30( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Michael Arcuri

0:21:36 to 0:21:58( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: gentleman is recognized. mr. arcuri: mr. speaker, h.r. 235 provides for a structured rule for consideration of h.r. 1262, the water quality investment act of 2009. the rule makes in order 10 amendments, including all five of the republican amendments, that were submitted for consideration. mr. speaker, among the many

0:21:59 to 0:22:19( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: challenges confronting us, none could be more elemental than protecting our water. today the nationwide system of wastewater infrastructure includes 16,000 publicly owned wastewater treatment plants, 100,000 major pumping stations, 600,000 miles of sanitary sewers, and 200,000 miles of storm sewers.

0:22:20 to 0:22:40( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: it is estimated that we have already invested over $250 billion on the construction and maintenance of this system. however we are now in danger of losing that investment in we do not act to maintn and improve this system. the vast majority of water quality investment act of 2009 is made up of five bills that the house considered and passed

0:22:41 to 0:23:02( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: during the 110th congress. four of which were not addressed by the senate. with any luck our colleagues in the other body will be able to address these important issues this congress. the need for serious investment in our infrastructure is clear. in 2002, the e.p.a. estimated that there will be 534 million -- excuse me, billion dollar gap

0:23:03 to 0:23:23( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: between spending and needs for water and wastewater infrastructure in 2009. the e.p.a.'s clean watershed's need survey of 2004 report to company documented america's wastewater infrastructure needs at more than $202 billion. these are numbers from several years ago.

0:23:24 to 0:23:45( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: the water quality investment act of 2009 authorizes $13.8 billion in federal grants over five years to capitalize clean water state revolving loan funds that provide grants and low-interest loans to communities for water and wastewater infrastructure. these funds are critical to so many communities in the district

0:23:46 to 0:24:08( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: that i represent. during december and january, it seemed like every local elected official that i met with had a water or wastewater infrastructure project that was shovel ready and in dire need of stimulus funds. the funding authorized by this bill will hope to address the backlog of need. h.r. 1262 also authorizes $1.8

0:24:09 to 0:24:29( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: billion over the next five years for sewer overflow control grants programs. addressing and eliminating combined sewer overflows is one of the biggest financial challenges facing communities in my district and all over the country. communities in northeastern united states tend to have old d deteriorating sewer systems, old clay pipes with leaking

0:24:30 to 0:24:51( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: joints, other weaknesses in the system allow outside water to infiltrate into the system. during heavy storms or spring snow melt, this infiltration causes the system to overflow and discharge water and sewage into local rivers. a number of county and municipal water systems in my district are facing multimillion dollar projects to prevent their

0:24:52 to 0:25:14( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: systems from overflowing into the mohawk river that runs from west to east across upstate new york and feeds into the hudson river. many of these communities have small populations incapable of simply passing the cost of these projects on to ratepayers. h.r. 1262 authorizes extended repayment periods of up to 30 years for the s.r.f. loans to

0:25:15 to 0:25:35( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: help lessen the burden on local ratepayers. to further assist rural or small communities like these, the legislation also authorizes technical assistance to help them meet the requirements of the clean water act and to assist them in gaining access to financing wastewater infrastructure. in the upstate new york district that i represent, i often hear from rural communities about the

0:25:36 to 0:25:57( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: difficulty they had in finding and applying for grant and loan opportunities. the most reliable way to prevent human illness from waterborne diseases and pathogens is eliminate human exposure to pollutants and discharge sewage. while system repairs and upgrades take time to implement, timely public notice can limit

0:25:58 to 0:26:18( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: the human exposure when these discharges occur. the water quality investment also requires owners and operators of publicly owned treatment works to monitor for and provide timely notification of sewer overflows to federal and state agencies, public health departments, and the public at large. the legislation properly extends davis-bacon prevailing wage

0:26:19 to 0:26:39( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: protections to contractors on treatment works projects that are constructed with any assistance from the state revolving loan funds. this prevents cut rate crews from performing shoddy work and ensures local contractors can competitively bid on local water infrastructure projects. the bill also reinstates the aim kibblet of the buy american --

0:26:40 to 0:27:02( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: applicability of the buy american act. in this way the bill ensures the investment we make in our infrastructure has the greates possible benefit on the american economy. the buy american provision included in the water quality investment act are consistent with the buy american provisions included in the final conference agreement of the american recovery and reinvestment act. the bill also increases the

0:27:03 to 0:27:24( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: authorization to remediate contamination in the great lakes. in 2002 the e.p.a. reported that pollution was impairing the use of 91% of the great lake shorelines and 99% of the great lakes open water. impayment means it did not meet all the designated uses including fishing, swimming, and suitability.

0:27:25 to 0:27:45( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: the leading causes of this impairment were pathogens, metals, and organic compounds. e.p.a. noted that the dominant cause of shoreline impairment was historic pollution in the form of contaminated sediment. h.r. 1262 increases to $150 million per year the authorization for projects that address sediment contamination

0:27:46 to 0:28:06( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: in the great lakes areas. areas of concern are defined under the great lakes water quality agreement between the united states and canada as ecologically degraded geographic areas that require remediation. an area qualifies in at least

0:28:07 to 0:28:27( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: one of5 beneficial uses, it's imperative if it is by -- if it is in some way resulted in coamination. by increasing the authorization for the cleanup contaminated sediment in most polluted areas of the great lakes, the bill will improve opportunities for fishing, swimming, boating, and agriculture. this will help approximately 40 million people who live in the great lakes basin.

0:28:28 to 0:28:31( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Arcuri: the level of authorization is consistent with the provision of