Senator Boxer said: "Clean, safe water is essential to all of us. It is especially important for children. Today the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed two measures that will ensure communities have the resources they need to adequately treat wastewater and drinking water, and will keep the public informed when their water may be threatened by overflowing sewage."

The Water Infrastructure Financing Act, will assist states in making low-interest loans to local communities to construct wastewater treatment facilities to treat wastewater and drinking water. It also revises and makes improvements to existing grant programs and provides incentives for improved water conservation and efficiency.

S. 2080, the Sewage Overflow Right-to-Know Act, requires and authorizes funding for monitoring, reporting and public notification when sewage overflows into communities.

Both bills now go to the full Senate for consideration.

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