Wicker Introduces Legislation to Help Rural Communities Meet Water Standards

Statement

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), along with Senator Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), on Wednesday introduced bipartisan legislation that would help ensure families in America's smallest and most rural communities have access to safe and clean drinking water.

The Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act would authorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make grants available that provide technical assistance and compliance training to assist these communities in meeting national water quality standards.

"Many counties and towns throughout America, including many in Mississippi, are struggling as a result of the economic downturn, making it difficult for them to comply with costly federal regulations," said Wicker. "This legislation would give some assistance to these small communities as they try to provide clean drinking water, and I am glad to join Senator Conrad in this bipartisan effort."

"Senator Wicker and I understand that there are few things more important to a community than safe, clean drinking water," Senator Conrad said. "Unfortunately, the infrastructure in some areas of North Dakota, Mississippi and rural communities across the country isn't as up-to-date as it should be, making it difficult to meet environmental and safety standards. The funding provided in this bill is critical to ensuring the water quality in these communities meets national standards."

Under the bill, Mississippi would receive $285,000 in rural water technical assistance funds for Fiscal Year 2012.

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