Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. McCLAIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the WIPPES Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that I introduced alongside Congresswoman Peltola of Alaska, Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Senator Susan Collins of Maine.

I thank my friend, Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, for moving this bill through the Energy and Commerce Committee and for the committee's unanimous support.

According to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the additional costs to wastewater treatment systems that nonflushable wipes bring is more than $440 million, including more than $18 million in my home State of Michigan. This jeopardizes critical infrastructure in communities across the country, and costs to repair this damage are often forced onto the taxpayer.

This bill aims to be a solution to this nearly half-billion-dollar problem. Ensuring needed information is provided to consumers will prevent damage to wastewater systems and actually save taxpayers millions in repair costs.

We have worked with industry and wastewater systems around the country to draft legislation, and I am glad to say this bill has the full support of many of these organizations.

This commonsense legislation, based on laws adopted by several States around the country, will help address this problem, protect our wastewater systems from critical damage, and save taxpayer dollars. Industry knows this. Wastewater stakeholders know this. The Energy and Commerce Committee knows this, as well.

Again, I thank Chairwoman Rodgers and the Energy and Commerce Committee for their support, and I urge the entire House to support this bill.

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