Rep. Garrett offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 174.

            A resolution to urge the Congress of the United States to enact legislation that increases funding for critical investments to improve aging water infrastructure and to urge the President and Congress of the United States to work cooperatively with the state on promoting access to clean water and key investments in water infrastructure.

            Whereas, Water is a precious and increasingly limited natural resource in the world. Providing reliable access to clean water is a basic necessity that must be afforded to all communities. Our water infrastructure systems enable the dependable delivery of clean water to communities; and

            Whereas, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment and Clean Watersheds Needs Survey found that $682.3 billion in improvements are needed for clean water and drinking water infrastructure through 2030 in order to expand existing infrastructure, properly restore or replace deteriorating lines, and construct or rehabilitate important infrastructure components. The rising costs associated with insufficient investments or deferring the rehabilitation and maintenance of aging water infrastructure threatens the dependable delivery of clean water; and

            Whereas, The costs of providing clean drinking water and protecting water quality are only going to grow larger. The changing environmental conditions that are a result of climate change, such as droughts, flooding, and changes in annual rainfall, impact the abundance and quality of water. The increased demand for water for agricultural and commercial applications and changes in land use are other factors that contribute to the growing stress on water infrastructure. The culmination of these factors necessitates immediate investments to rehabilitate existing infrastructure, expand current capacity, and promote future resiliency. Moreover, for every $1 billion spent in federal water and wastewater infrastructure investment, an estimated 26,000 jobs are created; and

            Whereas, The Governor of Michigan has supported over $172 million in funds for wastewater and drinking water projects this year and recently launched a new state water strategy to, among other things, improve investment in infrastructure and funding support to maintain clean water and healthy aquatic ecosystems. The draft strategy recommends that the state agencies which are tasked with working cooperatively with municipal governments "implement a communication strategy focused on messages that link the relationship between investments in water infrastructure and clean water as well as the benefits infrastructure provides for drinking water, recreation, cultural and economic opportunity"; and

            Whereas, The White House recently launched a new Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is tasked with working cooperatively with municipal and state governments to attract innovative financing for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, while increasing resiliency to climate change; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Congress of the United States to increase funding for Michigan's Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Drinking Water Revolving Fund, and similar efforts that make critical investments toward improvements for our state’s aging water infrastructure; and be it further

            Resolved, That we urge the Congress and the President of the United States, in cooperation with state leadership, to develop solutions that will promote access and key investments in water infrastructure while taking additional steps to address the infrastructure challenges which threaten our access to clean, free water; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.