They give it a D. It’s a brutal assessment, but it needs to be a wake-up call for policymakers.
Access to clean drinking water is not a rural problem or a big city problem, it is not a Republican or Democrat problem, it is a national emergency and we need to find solutions before it is too late.
It is one thing to see these terrible grades on paper, but what does this actually mean for people in their day-to-day lives?
Rogers resident Mike Frazee recently shared his story with the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife to give policymakers that real life insight.
I invited him to testify during a hearing to address problems with America’s water infrastructure system and possible funding and financing investment.
Whenever he sees someone hauling water for lack of access to a well or public water system, he stops them and tells them about the assistance options that are available.
Currently, an estimated 1.7 million Americans live without access to clean, running drinking water in their homes.
Our water infrastructure is a perfect place to start.
We have an Administration that has made infrastructure investment a top priority, coupled with bipartisan support in both the Senate and House.
Developing an infrastructure bill that directly addresses America’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure challenges must be a priority that Congress adopts and brings to fruition.