Friday, April 11, 2008

National Water-Quality Assessment Program in the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

The Soil and Water Conservation Society, Academy of Natural Sciences, American Water Works Association, Izaak Walton League of America, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and a host of other organizations have submitted letters to US House and Senate leaders urging support of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program.

The letters state, "We are writing to urge you to provide $70 million for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) within the U.S. Geological Survey’s FY09 appropriations. The President’s budget calls for $54.1 million for the Program – a 15 percent cut from the FY 2008 enacted level of $63.9 million. We request that you reject the 15 percent cut and include an inflationary increase plus an additional $4 million to begin to restore the integrity of this program that has diminished without cost-of-living increases for 11 of the past 12 years."

To view the full letters, go to http://www.swcs.org/en/publications/news_releases/.

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