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Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I want to thank Chairman Barrasso, Ranking Member Carper, and Senators Inhofe and Cardin for all their hard work to advance the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 to the Senate floor so we can make the much needed improvements to our Nation's water infrastructure. I would also like to express my appreciation to the hard-working staff of the Environment and Public Works Committee who spent literally countless hours working on this important water infrastructure legislation. The path to getting this bill to the Senate floor has not been easy, and it would not have happened without the strong bipartisanship shown by EPW leaders.
This bill gets us back on track to authorize critical water infrastructure projects across the country every 2 years, ensuring our economic vitality and competitiveness. America's Water Infrastructure Act is in lockstep with President Trump's vision for infrastructure by growing our economy, cutting redtape, protecting our citizens and their property, and improving transparency, all the while being fiscally responsible.
I am particularly pleased, this bill also includes the Securing Required Funding for Water Infrastructure Now Act or SRF WIN Act legislation that I had an opportunity to introduce with Senator Booker. The SRF WIN Act was a truly bipartisan effort, and I would like to give special thanks to our cosponsors, Senators Barrasso, Cornyn, Inhofe, Capito, Wicker, Hyde-Smith, Feinstein, Casey, Baldwin, Manchin, and Senator Whitehouse.
The fact that the SRF WIN Act has cosponsors from across the country with vastly different political ideologies makes an important point that infrastructure investment is not a rural issue or a big city issue. It is not a red State or blue State problem. This is a national emergency, and it is time we put partisanship aside and show the American people we can work together to provide safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater services to Americans in every part of the country.
The SRF WIN Act is a result of months-long negotiations. It blends the best ideas available to ensure this commonsense, bipartisan legislation will work effectively and efficiently, providing millions and potentially billions in project dollars to communities that have traditionally not had access to these types of funds.
What the SRF WIN Act does is simple. It combines the efficiency and trust associated with the State Revolving Funds with the leveraging power of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. This legislation makes the process easier and more affordable for States and communities to access Federal water infrastructure funding. Simply put, the SRF WIN Act is a critical component to future water infrastructure financing.
Congress needs to do a better job providing basic public services such as safe roads, bridges, and an up-to-date water infrastructure system. By passing America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, Congress has made water infrastructure investment a top priority. This bill is a victory for job creators, small and large businesses, every single State across the country, and consumers. I am pleased to see support for this bill in the House, the Senate, and the White House.
I urge my colleagues to pass this important legislation, and I again thank Chairman Barrasso, Ranking Member Carper, Senators Inhofe and Cardin for their strong bipartisan work. They set a great example of the good policy outcomes that can be accomplished if we work together.
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