Local Water Protection Act

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2008) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to nonpoint source management, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2008.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2008. H.R. 2008 is a bipartisan bill to reauthorize appropriations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Nonpoint Source Management grants program. I would like to thank my colleagues, Ms. Craig from Minnesota and Mr. Mast from Florida, for introducing this bill.

Nonpoint sources of water pollution come from many diffuse sources, including runoff from farms, managed forests, and urban areas. This runoff can carry pollutants, such as fertilizers and sediment from fields and lawns, toxins from abandoned mines, and oils and heavy metals from roads into lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. Nationally, some 55 percent of assessed rivers and streams currently do not meet State water quality standards.

The Clean Water Act was enacted in 1972 to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters. In 1987, the Clean Water Act was amended to add section 319 to create a non-regulatory program through which EPA administers annual grants to help States develop and implement their own programs for managing nonpoint sources of water pollution.

Under EPA's 319 program, States retain the primary role for addressing nonpoint source water pollution, which they do largely through voluntary means and financial incentives. However, according to the General Accounting Office, the extent of the available incentives has declined in recent years, as grants to States under the section 319 program have declined by more than 30 percent from a high of about $240 million annually in fiscal year 2004.

The section 319 program was initially authorized at $70 million annually in fiscal year 1988, and its authorization level steadily increased to $130 million in fiscal year 1991, the last year of authorization for this program.

Since that time, the section 319 program has continued to receive funds through the annual appropriation for EPA. In fiscal year 2021, the section 319 program received a Federal appropriation of $177 million, and the President's fiscal year 2022 budget request proposes an increase in funding for the program to $180 million.

H.R. 2008 would authorize $200 million annually for the section 319 program through 2026. This would be a modest increase of the current appropriated level for this popular program, but less than the historic peak appropriation for this program in the early 2000s.

Again, I thank Ms. Craig and Mr. Mast for leading this bipartisan bill. This legislation passed out of committee with bipartisan support and is a good bill for a valuable program.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Craig).

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2008, the Local Water Protection Act.

Madam Speaker, in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we take water quality very seriously. Not only are our lakes and waterways critical for transporting agriculture goods, but they are at the core of Minnesota's natural beauty and tourism economy.

That is why I was so proud to introduce the bipartisan Local Water Protection Act to reauthorize funding for pollution mitigation efforts in our communities.

From 1987 to 1991, Congress authorized funds each year for the Environmental Protection Agency's Nonpoint Source Management grants program, which provides grants to State and local governments to reduce water pollution.

Our Local Water Protection Act would reauthorize funding for this important task with $200 million annually to help protect our lakes, rivers, and streams, and protect them for future generations.

This program would give State and local governments the authority to create locally-focused, voluntary conservation programs that are tailor-made for their own communities. And recent history in my home district demonstrates that these programs are incredibly effective.

In fact, the Goodhue County Soil and Water Conservation District is currently working to reduce pollutants in the Mississippi River-Lake Pepin watershed by 20 percent. And I would add, I was out there on Lake Pepin just this last weekend with some great folks.

In Wabasha County, these projects provided low-interest loans to improve residential infrastructure and help farmers come into compliance with pollution standards.

And the South Washington Watershed District integrated a stormwater reuse plan that is estimated to reduce potable water usage by more than 40 million gallons annually. There is no doubt that these programs can be effective, and there is no good reason why we shouldn't prioritize them.

As we look toward preserving our environment, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) for introducing the bill with me.

Madam Speaker, thank you so much, and I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 2008 reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency's section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control program under the Clean Water Act.

Reauthorizing this program reinforces the Federal leadership that helps our State and local partners in their efforts to control nonpoint source pollution.

For example, my home State of North Carolina typically receives $1 million for competitive grant funding for watershed restoration projects. This money is put to good use conducting watershed restoration projects like stormwater and agricultural best management practices and restoration of impaired streams affected by nonpoint source pollution.

In my district, some of these grant funds are being used to reduce stormwater runoff volume on the campus of UNC-Wilmington.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, in closing, the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control program has benefited water bodies all across the country and reauthorizing this program will reinforce this successful cooperative Federal, State, and local partnership to control nonpoint sources of pollution around the country.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on June 15, 2022, I voted against bills En Bloc. Had H.R. 610, H.R. 293, H.R. 587, H.R. 1144, H.R. 1921, H.R. 2008, H.R. 2332, H.R. 2545, and H.R. 3642 each received a standalone vote, I would have voted in support of each bill. I opposed the En Bloc because I oppose H.R. 1703.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 8 of House Resolution 473, I move to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 293, H.R. 587, H.R. 610, H.R. 1144, H.R. 1703, H.R. 1921, H.R. 2008, H.R. 2332, H.R. 2545, and