This was a vote on House passage of H.R. 1262, a bill authorizing billions of dollars to help states and local governments with wastewater treatment facilities, alternative water resource projects, and sediment remediation efforts. Rep. Oberstar (D-MN), who led the support for the bill, said: “(O)ur responsibility is to care for the water we have. . . We have to manage it well, make sure that we use it properly (and) that we return (it) to the streams and lakes and estuaries of the Nation in clean condition. This legislation will move us in that direction.” Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said she supported the measure because “approximately 40 percent of the rivers, lakes and coastal waters do not meet state water quality standards, and the problem is getting worse.”

No opposition to the general intent of the legislation was voiced during the debate. The primary concern expressed about the bill related to the inclusion of language requiring that “prevailing wages and benefits” be paid to all who worked on the projects funded by the Act. Republicans called that language “fiscally irresponsible” and a concession to organized labor that would increase the costs of the funded projects. An effort to have the language deleted during consideration of the bill was unsuccessful. Rep. Boozman (R-AR) was a strong supporter of the measure, but said including language that requires “prevailing wages and benefits” to be used for all projects funded by it “will make clean water projects cost more.”

The legislation passed by a vote of 317-101.  All 244 Democrats and 73 Republicans voted “aye”. All 101 “nay” votes were cast by Republicans. As a result, the House passed and sent to the Senate the bill authorizing billions of dollars to help states and local governments fund water projects.