Letter of Wayne Strnad to Senator Durbin on behalf of business people and our community

The Honorable Richard J. Durbin
United States Senate
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1304

RE: Protect America's Water Quality - Support Clean Water Funding

Dear Senator Durbin:

Clean Water America (CWA) applauds the leadership shown by the U.S. House of Representatives in taking measures to provide communities the resources needed to upgrade aging and failing water infrastructure. The bill, originally sponsored by Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), to finance municipal sewer upgrades was overwhelmingly approved by a bipartisan 303-108 vote.

If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the Water Quality Financing Act of 2007 (H.R. 720) will provide $14 billion in federal loan guarantees to help cities and towns finance water and sewer improvements. The measure would reauthorize the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to provide low interest loans to government entities for clean water and nonpoint source pollution control projects.

As such, I strongly urge you to move quickly to take up this critically important legislation for our communities, and to take the next step and fully fund the legislation. This is the sort of smart investment that America needs to rebuild many of her urban areas and ensure clean water for families and generations to come.

Clean water remains one of our nation's highest priorities as well as one of our greatest challenges. Our nation is facing a clean water infrastructure crisis that will ultimately undermine the quality of life in American communities. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Congressional Budget Office, and the Government Accountability Office the projected shortfall in clean water infrastructure investment will approach $500 billion over the next two decades.

Failure to address this issue and adequately finance our nation's clean water infrastructure will have disastrous implications for our economy, public health and the environment. Manufacturing alone consumes 13 trillion gallons of water annually and agriculture relies on twice that amount. Plus, EPA warns that a lack of funding will reverse the water quality gains of the last 35 years and result in pollution levels that pre-date the 1972 Clean Water Act.

The integrity of America's clean water infrastructure system is both fundamental and essential to public health, clean waterways, manufacturing, fishing, tourism and economic growth. I sincerely hope that you will support this legislation and make every effort to ensure its passage. This Bill is essential to achieving our nation's water quality goals while keeping the Federal government's promise to the American people that our waters will be safe and clean for future generations. Thank you in advance for your support of this vital legislation.

Sincerely, 

Wayne Strnad

cc:  Senator Obama
       Congressman Gutierrez

You can use this letter or any portion thereof, for the purpose of writing to your own senators and congressman.  Don't forget to pass it along to all your friends, either in part or whole.  The more people that get involved, the better it is for everyone.

You need to protect your business and your community.

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