Delgado Co-sponsors A Bill To Address Water Contamination
By Doug La Rocque
19th District Congressional Representative Antonio Delgado has joined Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and other lawmakers to introduce legislation he says will address water contamination in Hoosick Falls, Petersburgh and across the country. The bill aims to provide communities with federal funds to invest in water infrastructure, and according to the Congressman, contains specific funding for rural communities affected by PFAS/PFOA contamination. In his press release, representative Delgado said “With the water contamination that communities in Hoosick and Petersburgh have faced, we need to treat this crisis as the urgent matter that it is. This bill will do real good for communities in my district. It’s a bold step toward rebuilding water infrastructure while creating up to a million jobs.”
The Congressman was joined in Washington last Thursday, February 28, once again by Hoosick Falls resident Michael Hickey, who is credited with having brought to light the PFOA crisis in the village. Speaking with The Eastwick Press, Mr. Hickey called the legislation, dubbed the Water Acton 2019, an important step “not only for current environmental concerns, but as we lay a groundwork for the future.” He also called it, “instrumental in helping small communities like Hoosick Falls to acquire the funding they need.”
If approved, the legislation would provide $35 billion a year for drinking water and wastewater improvements. It would also provide federal funding for communities to address PFAS/PFOA contamination, invest in water infrastructure projects, test drinking water in schools, and more. It especially helps rural communities by providing funding for building and repairing household drinking water wells and allows communities affected by PFAS/PFOA contamination to update their water treatment systems or find alternative water sources.