Larson Slams GOP Plan To Gut Clean Water Funding

WASHINGTON – Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) slammed Republican leadership in the House of Representatives today as they continued to debate the FY12 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes a plan to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs).

The Clean Water and Drinking Water SRFs provide aid that goes directly to the states and localities to fund water infrastructure projects that aim to protect drinking water and better manage wastewater and pollution runoff.

"Americans want to know that the water they drink is safe and that their wastewater is disposed of in a healthy and environmentally-friendly manner," Congressman Larson said. "House Republicans, in an effort to appease their Tea Party base, continue to propose drastic cuts that will cause our federal government to be less able to perform critical public safety tasks. At a time when America should be reinvesting in its infrastructure and exploring new, green technology these cuts serve as a blow to an already overstressed system."

Under the proposed bill, the Clean Water SRF was cut from $1.5 billion in FY2011 to $689 million in FY2012. Alternately, the Drinking Water SRF was cut from $963 million in FY2011 to $829 million in FY2012.

If this bill becomes law, Connecticut will see nearly $10 million less in funding for the Clean Water SRF and $1.3 million less in Drinking Water SRF funding from FY11 levels.