I call this hearing of the subcommittee on fisheries, wildlife, fisheries, water and wildlife, to order. We are here today to discuss innovative financing and funding to address americas deficient Water Infrastructure. The purpose of this hearing is simple, today we will be discussing americas current approach towards Drinking Water and wastewater investment Wastewater Infrastructure investment. Many members of this committee including myself often reference the American Society of Civil Engineers, asce, infrastructure report card. Currently the asce grades americas Drinking Water infrastructure with a d. Wastewater has a slightly better grade, a d plus. That reminds some of our grades in school. Not you. Im glad you didnt look this way. This is not a rural problem or a big city problem, its not a republican or a democrat problem. This is a National Emergency and we need to find solutions before its too late. It is one thing to see these terrible grades on paper, but what does this act
Number one concern and worry is Drinking Water and number two is wastewater. Everything else is a distant third. If theres a problem with the Drinking Water it has to be addressed immediately. Middle of the night, middle of the winter, it doesnt matter when. Every citizen and especially the most vulnerable depend on the safety of the water including families with infants, schools, our Nursing Homes and people with compromised immune systems. We cant have any contamination of the Drinking Water. Our sewer system also needs to function prop toerl avoid any probability of a sewage spill or sewage backup into peoples homes. I would say to you that this really does keep me up at night. Congressman tonko knows that right now our part of the state is buried in snow, just last week the frost penetrated the ground so deeply that we experienced two ruptures in our water planes that are 5 to 6 feet underground. This forced us to issue a boil water advisory where we have to tell families to boil w
Number one concern and worry is Drinking Water and number two is wastewater. Everything else is a distant third. If theres a problem with the Drinking Water it has to be addressed immediately. Middle of the night, middle of the winter, it doesnt matter when. Every citizen and especially the most vulnerable depend on the safety of the water including families with infants, schools, our Nursing Homes and people with compromised immune systems. We cant have any contamination of the Drinking Water. Our sewer system also needs to function prop toerl avoid any probability of a sewage spill or sewage backup into peoples homes. I would say to you that this really does keep me up at night. Congressman tonko knows that right now our part of the state is buried in snow, just last week the frost penetrated the ground so deeply that we experienced two ruptures in our water planes that are 5 to 6 feet underground. This forced us to issue a boil water advisory where we have to tell families to boil w
This is the essence of and the beauty of the United States of america. Unlike other countries complacent in older systems were still young, dynamic and unafraid to question ourselves. This spirit initially led to revolution and then to the removal of the sin of slavery, the right of women to vote, a Great Civil Rights Movement that truly transformed our nation and now a recognition of the reits of all americans regardless of their sexual orientation. Make no mistake we still have Unfinished Business and work to do. Reform of our criminal Justice System must continue. And under loretta and sally im sure that will be the case. The historic wrongs visited upon our native people must be righted. The widening gap of income inequality must be reversed. In the defense of our nation we must always adhere, always adhere to the values that define us. And at all costs. All costs the right to vote must be protected. [ applause ] now that list may seem daunting but if we are true to who we are as a
The storm began before noon increased in dramatic intensity and then finally tapered off toward midnight. That evening. This hurricane was and still is the deadliest recorded national event. In the history of the United States. Watch all of our events from galveston, saturday at noon eastern oncspan 2s book tv. Barbara mikulski is announcing her retirement this morning in baltimore. She addressed the media this morning. She is 78. A high land town native and maryland senior senator. She served in the senate since 1987. Up for reelection next year. Shae became the longest serving woman in the history of congress in 2012. First lekked to the house in 1976. That announcement happening this morning at 11 00 eastern, which is right about now. Up next, water experts discuss significant challenges affecting rural areas. They testified friday before a house energy subcommittee. They also addressed upgrading Water Systems and the need for more access to funding and regulatory compliance. I woul