NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Champions Water Affordability Program as Senate Considers Key Water Resources, Infrastructure Bills

“There’s no question that clean, safe, reliable, and affordable water is a basic right and is essential to public health.” Click here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester’s remarks. U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today participated in a Committee Business Meeting to consider the Water Resources Development Act . Senators Blunt Rochester and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) discussed the need for a program to expand affordable drinking water access. The Water Resources Development Act passed out of committee with unanimous support. Senator Blunt Rochester’s remarks can be found here and below: “While I support this legislation wholeheartedly, I think there is an area where it falls short, and that is meeting our country’s growing affordability crisis. Americans are seeing higher costs everywhere, from the gas pump to housing, and they shouldn’t have to choose between their groceries and utility bills. “This is why Senator Padilla and I, with the support of utilities and community organizations, have been working on [a] water affordability program modeled after the highly successful LIHEAP program. “Water affordability has been a mounting crisis for years, and it’s only getting worse. From aging infrastructure to higher operational cost, water rates are skyrocketing, and Americans are struggling to pay their bills. This water affordability program would provide much-needed relief to families and give our water utilities the reliable revenue stream they need for regular maintenance. “There’s no question that clean, safe, reliable, and affordable water is a basic right and is essential to public health. Chairman Capito, I hope that you will continue to work with me and Senator Padilla on this very important effort, and I yield the remaining of my time to my colleague and partner in this very, very important work.”