Cleaver Amendment makes down payment on pledge to bring home more money for ‘green’ sewer plan
Today, Congressman Cleaver, II won House approval of an amendment that would designate 20% of the $2.4 billion dollars devoted to funding municipal Combined and Sanitary Sewer Overflow plans in the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1262), to green solutions.
“I am proud to add a provision in the manager’s amendment that will ensure that no less than 20 percent of the billions in grant funds made available by this bill for sewer overflow control will be spent on projects that incorporate green infrastructure approaches and practices. I believe this strikes a reasonable balance between green infrastructure and traditional control systems, as both have a role in creating a sustainable and workable solution to sewer overflows,” said Congressman Cleaver to his colleagues on the Floor of the House.
Chairman James Oberstar (MN-08) of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-03) of the Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee agreed to incorporate Congressman Cleaver’s amendment into the manager’s amendment offered on the Floor of the House. Inclusion in the manager’s amendment increased the chances of passage. “I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar and Chairwoman Bernice Johnson for embracing this amendment and advocating for its inclusion in the bill. Their help was crucial in achieving passage of this important measure,” said Cleaver.
In order to comply with the Clean Water Act of 1972, the City of Kansas City has developed a plan that will cost $1.2 billion over 25 years. The Combined Sewer Overflow plan represents the largest capital project the city has ever undertaken. Last May, Congressman Cleaver urged the Mayor and City Council to adopt the “greenest plan possible.”
“When I encouraged the City to include more ‘green’ solutions in its Combined Sewer Overflow Plan, I promised the City that the path to ‘green’ would yield more opportunities for federal funding. This is the first step in keeping that promise,” said Congressman Cleaver. “I said I would fight tooth-and-nail for money if the City advanced the vision of a healthier, more sustainable and greener future. This amendment makes Kansas City’s commitment to green pay off with a better chance at millions of federal dollars. I would like to thank the Kansas City Council, and particularly the hard work of Councilwoman Jan Marcason, for leading the City towards a greener future.”
“Kansas City has projects that are underway, including the largest green demonstration project in the country. I am pleased Kansas City is out front and other cities across the nation will be able to benefit from our research on green strategies. We are committed to doing this giant project in a way that generations of Kansas Citians can be proud of and Congressman Cleaver’s efforts with this amendment will do a great deal to help us achieve that goal,” said Councilwoman Marcason.
The Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1262), including the Cleaver Amendment, passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 317 to 101 and now moves to the Senate for approval.