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Provisions authored by Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) to help public water systems improve infrastructure and ensure safer drinking water were approved by the U.S. House of Representatives this afternoon. The provisions, which were originally a part of H.R. 1653, the Drinking Water Affordability Act, were included in S. 3021, the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA). The bill passed by voice vote.
 
The provisions Latta authored provide increased flexibility to state and local governments to meet their specific needs, develop cost-efficient ways to protect drinking water, and ensure funds are utilized efficiently and effectively.
 
“There are more than 51,000 community water systems across the country, all with varying needs and infrastructure currently in place,” said Latta. “The inclusion of these clean drinking water provisions in WRDA will help communities – including disadvantaged ones – fix and improve their water infrastructure without burdening ratepayers with skyrocketing costs. By removing duplicative federal requirements and providing more flexibility to repay Federal loans, states and local governments will be better able to fund clean drinking water projects that meet their specific needs.”
 
The Drinking Water Affordability Act would:
•    Provide increased flexibility for the repayment of federal loans for states and local communities that use the funds to finance clean drinking water infrastructure projects
•    Cut burdensome red tape by removing duplicative reporting and paperwork requirements when state standards are equally stringent — or more so — than federal standards
•    Help disadvantaged communities better finance their infrastructure through the use of federal funding
 
Congressman Latta serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and has been a leader in implementing clean drinking water policies. Previously, he authored legislation, the Drinking Water Protection Act, to create a strategic plan to address algal toxins in drinking water. That legislation was signed into law last Congress.
 
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