September 20, 2023

Wyden, Padilla, Schatz Announce Coordinated Effort to Tackle America’s Drinking Water Crisis

The Energy and Natural Resource Committee’s Water and Power Subcommittee, the Environment and Public Works Committee’s Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee, and the Indian Affairs Committee to hold hearings highlighting the urgent need to make sure every American has access to clean drinking water

Washington, D.C. – Chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resource Committee Ron Wyden, Chairman of the Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Alex Padilla, and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Brian Schatz today announced they will hold coordinated hearings on water access challenges in America.

“Clean drinking water is a human right, and it is unacceptable that anyone in this great nation is struggling to access clean water. Yet, families and communities across America continue to fall between the cracks and face significant threats to safe, affordable, and reliable water supplies,” Wyden, Padilla and Schatz said in a joint statement. “As Committee and Subcommittee chairs with jurisdiction over water access, we are committed to addressing America’s drinking water crisis. By bringing together panels of experts who possess a comprehensive understanding of these challenges, we and the Congress at large will gain valuable insights, and hear recommendations, that can help overcome both short- and long-term water access challenges. Our shared goal is to emerge from these hearings with concrete and actionable solutions that can effectively address water access issues in the United States.”

The Water and Power Subcommittee hearing will hold a hearing today, Wednesday, September 20 at 2:30PM ET to explore the intersection between drought and drinking water access and highlight the need for collaboration to tackle drinking water access challenges exacerbated by drought. More information on the hearing can be found here.

The EPW Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife will hold a hearing today, Wednesday, September 20 at 2:30PM ET to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing drinking water and wastewater systems that serve tribal communities. More information on the hearing can be found here.

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will examine access to clean, reliable water for Native communities as part of its work to uphold the federal trust responsibility. More information on this work is forthcoming on the Committee’s website.

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