WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., made the following statement regarding yesterday’s passage of his “Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act,” S. 611, by the House Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy:

“Small and rural communities sometimes need support to meet expensive federal drinking water regulations,” Wicker said. “My legislation would direct federal funding to help communities deliver safe, clean drinking water to their citizens. I am thankful for Congressman Harper’s leadership on this issue and look forward to seeing this proposal passed by the House in the coming weeks.”

Wicker’s legislation would reauthorize the “Safe Drinking Water Act” (SDWA) program, which provides technical aid and training provisions for $15 million per year over the next six years – the same as was previously authorized. These funds would help small and rural public water systems comply with National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. The last authorization of the bill expired in 2004. S. 611 is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 2853, which is sponsored by Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss.

The bill was introduced by Wicker earlier this year with Senator Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and passed the Senate in June.