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News for Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH ANNOUNCES WATER PROJECT FUNDING LEVELS

Appropriations Committee Approves Funding; Next Step is House Floor and Senate Consideration

May 18, 2006, Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth today announced FY2007 funding levels for South Dakota water projects, as reported out of the House Appropriations Committee. This funding will be represented in the version of the bill that is considered on the House floor, and it includes:

• Lewis and Clark Rural Water Project received $22 million, an increase of $1 million from the President's budget, and an increase over the $17.5 million the project received in final funding last year.
  
• Mni Wiconi received $32.1 million in funding, including $22.9 million for construction and $9.3 million for ongoing operations and maintenance. The project received $29.6 million in final funding last year.
  
• Perkins County Rural Water System received $1.25 million, despite receiving zero funding in the President's budget.

Rep. Herseth said, "The importance of a clean, reliable source of drinking water to rural economies can not be overstated. It's a tough budget environment, but I am pleased that we were able to see an increase on funding for South Dakota rural water projects over the President's recommendations. I will continue to work with the Senators to preserve and increase these funding levels as the bill moves through Congress."

December of last year, Herseth joined Senators Johnson and Thune for a conference call with Josh Bolton, then the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to discuss specifically funding levels for South Dakota's rural water projects in the President's 2007 budget. Following the release of the President's budget, Herseth wrote to Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Chairman David Hobson (R-OH) and Ranking Member Pete Visclosky (D-IN) to emphasize the importance of rural water projects in South Dakota and to request increased funding.

The next step for this funding is approval on the full House floor, as well as Senate approval and a possible conference committee.

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