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Kilili: CNMI getting $18.2M for safe drinking water
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Posted on Apr 10 2023
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) said over the weekend that the CNMI is receiving a combined $18.19 million as its allotment of the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds appropriated by the U.S. Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2023 and in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Sablan said in his e-kilili newsletter that the Marianas allotment from both Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2023 (Public Law 117-328) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58)—also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—is based on the 1.5% set-aside for the four smaller insular areas that he was able to have adopted for fiscal year 2010 in his first term in office.
He said the 1.5% set-aside has been continued in every year’s appropriation since then and has provided the Marianas an extra $103.5 million in that time.
In addition to the $2.2 million in fiscal year 2023 funds to ensure that drinking water is free from contaminants and another $9.3 million to supplement that money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Sablan said there are also $3.3 million directly focused on lead service line replacement and $3.4 million to deal with emerging contaminants.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides $5 billion in five years to address emerging contaminants like per-and polyflouroalkyl substances in drinking water. (Ferdie de la Torre)
