Bill Text: OR HJM7 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Urging Congress to increase investment in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-9)
Status: (Passed) 2013-05-22 - Filed with Secretary of State. [HJM7 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2013-HJM7-Enrolled.html
77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session Enrolled House Joint Memorial 7 Sponsored by Representatives DEMBROW, KOMP; Representatives BARNHART, BOONE, CLEM, FREDERICK, FREEMAN, GORSEK, HOLVEY, HUFFMAN, JOHNSON, KENY-GUYER, KRIEGER, LIVELY, MCKEOWN, NATHANSON, REARDON, THOMPSON, WHISNANT, WILLIAMSON, WITT, Senators EDWARDS, GIROD, HASS, MONNES ANDERSON, MONROE, OLSEN, ROBLAN, STARR To the President of the United States and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled: We, your memorialists, the Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent as follows: Whereas generations of Oregonians have enjoyed access to safe, reliable and accessible public water, but a lack of investment in critical water systems that are relied upon to bring clean, accessible water to communities and the aging of public water infrastructure pose significant threats to the quality, safety, reliability and accessibility of public water; and Whereas water is widely viewed in Oregon as a public trust to be managed for the common good of the public at large; and Whereas approximately 80 percent of Oregon residents get their drinking water from public water systems; and Whereas the federal Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 created the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the purpose of assisting states with funding to ensure safe public drinking water; and Whereas in 2010 the Department of Human Services determined that $44 million would be needed in order to fund projects for protecting existing sources of public drinking water in Oregon; and Whereas in 2010 the final amount of funding from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund available for use on Oregon priority projects was $9,752,311, representing less than 25 percent of the amount needed; and Whereas according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 45 percent of the investment needs in Oregon for public water infrastructure are in communities with a population of less than 10,000; and Whereas the Title VI provisions of the federal Clean Water Act created the Clean Water State Revolving Fund in 1987 for the purpose of assisting states with funding to ensure clean water resources and wastewater systems and treatment facilities for the public; and Whereas in 2011 the Department of Environmental Quality determined that $380,821,000 will be needed in order to fully fund projects for maintaining clean water resource programs and wastewater systems and treatment facilities to protect the public and Oregon water resources; and Whereas in 2011 the funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund predicted to be available for use on Oregon Enrolled House Joint Memorial 7 (HJM 7-INTRO) Page 1 priority projects was $23,017,000, representing six percent of the amount needed; and Whereas 50 percent of Oregon priority projects for funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund would serve communities with a population of less than 5,000; and Whereas the current levels of funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund are not sufficient to ensure that Oregon's public drinking water and wastewater systems and treatment facilities are maintained and protected to benefit the health and safety of Oregon residents and benefit Oregon water resources; and Whereas investing in Oregon's public drinking water and wastewater systems and treatment facilities will create and support family wage jobs for Oregon workers; and Whereas according to the National Utility Contractors Association, for every $1 billion that is invested nationally in water infrastructure, almost 27,000 jobs are created; and Whereas it is critical for Oregon students to have access to safe and clean drinking water; and Whereas there is currently no dedicated federal funding available for updating and repairing drinking water systems in public schools; and Whereas protecting the public drinking water and wastewater systems and treatment facilities in the nation's communities is of crucial importance and requires an ongoing federal funding commitment; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon: (1) The Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon urges the Congress of the United States of America to increase investment in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to upgrade and repair the nation's aging public drinking water systems in order to ensure that all citizens have access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water. (2) The Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly urges the Congress of the United States to increase investment in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to upgrade and repair the nation's aging public water and wastewater treatment systems in order to ensure the health and safety of the nation's urban and rural environments and water resources. (3) The Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly urges the Congress of the United States to ensure that federal funding is available for public water systems in both large and small communities and ensure that dedicated funding is made available for updating and repairing drinking water systems in the nation's public schools. (4) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Senate Majority Leader, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to each member of the Oregon Congressional Delegation. ---------- Enrolled House Joint Memorial 7 (HJM 7-INTRO) Page 2 Adopted by House March 13, 2013 ---------------------------------- Ramona J. Line, Chief Clerk of House ---------------------------------- Tina Kotek, Speaker of House Adopted by Senate May 20, 2013 ---------------------------------- Peter Courtney, President of Senate Enrolled House Joint Memorial 7 (HJM 7-INTRO) Page 3