Wyden, Merkley, Heinrich Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Clean Drinking Water, Safe Sanitation for Underserved Communities
Press Release
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., today introduced legislation that would expand access to safe sanitation and clean drinking water for rural and underserved communities.
"Between historic drought and increasingly outdated infrastructure, Western communities are in desperate need of federal help to shore up access to clean drinking water and safe sanitation," Wyden said. "Access to clean drinking water is a human right, and this legislation is a key piece of the puzzle in helping identify just how far-reaching the water access gap is, and then responding with investments supporting those communities to close that gap across Oregon and nationwide."
"Reliable access to clean drinking water is vital to the health and safety of any community--especially during an ongoing global pandemic," Merkley said. "Far too many underserved communities lack access to safe basic necessities--this is wrong. I look forward to continuing my work with Senator Wyden and Senator Heinrich to do all we can to ensure clean and reliable drinking water and safe sanitation for all our communities here in Oregon and beyond."
"The Infrastructure Law includes transformative investments in clean water projects across New Mexico," Heinrich said. "The WASH Sector Development Act is a chance to build off of this success, create a clear picture of communities still lacking access to drinking water and sanitation, and establish a grant program to fill in the gaps. I'm proud to join Senator Wyden to introduce this legislation to protect access to this precious resource for generations to come."
Federal data currently fails to accurately measure the water and sanitation access gap in America, resulting in a lack of adequate investment in critical infrastructure for rural, tribal, and underserved communities.
The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Sector Development Act of 2022 would close the drinking water access gap by increasing reliable data from households without access, and establishing a pilot grant program to empower organizations working to help communities gain access to these critical resources.
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