Mullin Supports Oklahoma's Rural Water Systems in House Committee

Statement

Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) on Wednesday voted to better support rural and small community waters systems in Oklahoma and across the country. S. 611, the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act, a bill that reauthorizes federal assistance programs for small public water systems, was approved by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce unanimously.

"Complying with federal standards can be a major financial burden for small and rural drinking water supply systems," said Mullin, a second-term lawmaker on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "We need to make sure our water suppliers have the resources they need to achieve and maintain federal drinking water standards while keeping the cost of water affordable in our communities."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, small water systems make up seventy-seven percent of all U.S. water systems. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for drinking water quality and monitors the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards. S. 611 amends the SDWA to reauthorize EPA grant and technical assistance programs that help small water systems meet and maintain federal drinking water standards. Small water systems can apply to receive awards through grants or cooperative agreements with non-profits that provide certain on-site or regional assistance programs.

"Small and rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to maintaining and upgrading the systems that provide drinking water for families, schools, businesses, and other organizations," Mullin added. "My priority is to make sure these unique challenges, and all unique challenges of small and rural communities, are considered and addressed in federal policy discussions."

James Gammill, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Rural Water Association, thanked Mullin for his support on S. 611 in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"The Oklahoma Rural Water Association represents over 570 small and rural communities. We are grateful for Congressman Mullin's support on S. 611. Small and rural communities rely on on-site technical assistance and training for compliance with the myriad of federal EPA regulations, avoiding EPA fines, and operating drinking water and wastewater supplies. Without this assistance, effective implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act in rural areas would be nearly impossible," said Gammill.

S. 611 passed the U.S. Senate unanimously on June 9, 2015. The bill must now be passed by the full U.S. House of Representatives.

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