April 20, 2007 — The territory will receive $25 million for upgrade and construction of the territory's wastewater treatment plants, Delegate Donna M. Christensen announced Friday.
The funding was contained in an amendment to HR 1495, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007, which passed the House late yesterday, according to a news release from Christensen's office. The 2007 WRDA bill authorizes more than $15 billion in Army Corps of Engineers water-resources projects.
Gov. John deJongh Jr., who worked with Christensen to secure the funding, called it a landmark environmental infrastructure bill.
“The House decision to include the Virgin Islands amendment is a most welcome development,” deJongh said. “It will provide over the years much-needed federal assistance for the Government’s efforts to upgrade, repair and modernize our aging and vulnerable wastewater system on both Islands, but it will be especially helpful in our efforts to overhaul the wastewater system on St. Croix."
Christensen gave credit to several colleagues.
"I want to thank Chairman Jim Oberstar of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for including my request for this funding in his 'manager's amendment' to the WRDA bill," Christensen said, according to the news release. "Chairman Oberstar, has once again demonstrated his support for the territory with his inclusion of this important funding. I also want to thank Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Chairwoman and my CBC colleague, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas for her strong support of my request as well."
The wastewater infrastructure projects are among the highest priority for the V.I. government, Christensen said in her letter to the House transportation committee requesting the funding. "Nothing less than the continued economic development of the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the health and well-being of its residents are at stake," she wrote.
