A resolution designating the week of April 23 through April 29, 2023, as "National Water Week".

III 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 198 Designating the week of April 23 through April 29, 2023, as ‘‘National Water Week’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 4, 2023 Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Mr. PADILLA, Mr. CARPER, Mr. BOOZMAN, Ms. LUMMIS, Mr. WICKER, and Mr. WARNOCK) submitted the following reso- lution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating the week of April 23 through April 29, 2023, as ‘‘National Water Week’’. Whereas each community in the United States, both large and small, and urban, rural, and Tribal, deserves to have access to affordable, safe, and clean drinking water, sani- tation, and other critical water infrastructure; Whereas more than 2,000,000 people in the United States lack access to running water, indoor plumbing, or waste- water services; Whereas small, rural, and disadvantaged community water systems struggle to make needed investments while keep- ing rates affordable; Whereas Federal investment in core drinking water, waste- water, stormwater capture, sustainable desalination, and VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 May 04, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR198.ATS SR198 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •SRES 198 ATS water recycling programs allow local utilities and the cus- tomers of those local utilities to have the resources to affordably improve in water reliability and meet Federal regulatory obligations; Whereas source control is a critical first step to reducing emerging contaminants from entering water systems and the environment, along with advancing the state of the science on the risks of those contaminants, which is es- sential to protect public health; Whereas water infrastructure projects often rely on specific products and technologies, and substitutions may not be readily available, so it is critical to consider the realities unique to the water sector, and the near-term challenges that water infrastructure projects face; Whereas countless disadvantaged communities in the United States struggle to make needed investments in critical water infrastructure while simultaneously keeping rates affordable; Whereas water research helps solve some of the most pressing challenges for the water sector, such as— (1) aging infrastructure; (2) emerging contaminants; (3) resiliency to extreme weather; (4) drought and water scarcity; and (5) significant shifts in population; Whereas research and development aimed at finding cost-ef- fective solutions to the most pressing challenges for the water sector— (1) create more resilient and effective water systems; (2) create new jobs and support thriving commu- nities nationwide; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 May 04, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR198.ATS SR198 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •SRES 198 ATS (3) result in improved public health and safety and promote equitable solutions throughout the United States; and Whereas Congress and the executive branch should assist water utilities to ensure that those communities can con- tinue to fulfill their core mission of protecting public health and the environment while supporting local eco- nomic growth by addressing challenges related to— (1) managing aging water infrastructure, and esca- lating operation and maintenance costs, supply chain dis- ruptions, and workforce shortages; (2) addressing growing water quality impairments and regulations from emerging contaminants and nutri- ents; and (3) ensuring proper climate adaptation, system resil- iency, and security measures are in place: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That Congress hereby designates the week 1 of April 23 through April 29, 2023, as ‘‘National Water 2 Week’’. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:16 May 04, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR198.ATS SR198 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB