Duckworth Statement On Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill

Statement

[WASHINGTON, DC] -- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works' (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water & Wildlife that has jurisdiction over the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act and author of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA)--which passed the Senate by a vote of 89-2 in April 2021--issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against proceeding to consideration of a forthcoming bipartisan infrastructure bill:

"While I voted to proceed to consideration of a bipartisan infrastructure bill, more will need to be done in order for me to support the current proposal that is being drafted. We have a unique opportunity to make significant investments in communities across the nation and improve people's lives, but I can't commit to supporting a final bill if it does not include full funding for my Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA) at $35.9 billion over the next five years.

"The water situation is particularly pressing in Illinois, which has communities that overflow with sewage whenever there is a heavy rain and antiquated water infrastructure. Years of failure to make adequate investments in our water infrastructure has led us to this point and I hope my colleagues will join me in agreeing that now is the time to face this public health crisis head on."

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