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September 24, 2007
Congress approves $25 million for V.I. wastewater improvements The U.S. Senate this evening approved the conference report on a landmark water development bill which authorizes $25 million for infrastructure improvements for the territory’s wastewater system. The Senate 81-12 vote on Monday evening follows an earlier vote in the House of Representatives which approved the bill. The bill now goes to the President, who has issued a veto threat because of the bill’s overall $21 billion cost. The legislation, known as the "Water Resources Development Act of 2007," includes funding for flood control, navigation and environmental projects managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as money for coastal areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Congressional leaders of both political parties have lobbied the President over the last month in an effort to persuade him to sign the bill. The margins in the House and Senate votes on the conference report exceed the two-thirds required to override any veto. The $25 million V.I. amendment was included in the conference report at the request of Gov. John P. de Jongh, Jr. and Congressional Delegate Donna Christian Christensen. "This provision is a critical element of my administration’s plan to overhaul and modernize our aging wastewater treatment system on all three islands, but it will be especially helpful in our efforts to address the immediate needs we have on St. Croix," deJongh said. “Parts of the system are over 40 years old, including miles of collection pipes which have eroded and are subject to breakage. This bill will help fund not only immediate repairs, but also replacement of the most deteriorated sections of the system,” deJongh added. deJongh thanked Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Senator James Inhof (R-Oklahoma) for their assistance during the conference committee deliberations on the bill, as well as Congressman James Oberstar (D-Minnesota) and Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) for their support of the V.I. provision. "In particular, I want to thank Delegate Christiansen for her support and leadership in sponsoring the amendment," deJongh concluded. |
