Grassley Celebrates Decades-Long Initiative Bringing Clean Water to Iowa

Grassley Celebrates Decades-Long Initiative Bringing Clean Water to Iowa

Sibley is the 20th and final community to be connected to the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System

OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA - U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today delivered remarks in Sibley at a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating its connection to the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. Grassley discussed his longtime support of the clean water initiative and thanked local leaders for their hard work and dedication to the project.

"Over 30 years ago, community leaders began dreaming of a way to provide safe, clean water to hundreds of thousands of Iowans and Midwesterners. After decades of perseverance, we're seeing that dream come to fruition," Grassley said. "While today marks the final connection to the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, you can be sure of my continued support through future construction and expansion projects."

Download photos HERE. Grassley's prepared remarks follow.

Good morning, it's a pleasure to join you for this occasion.

You've come a long way to bring reliable drinking water to rural communities in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota.

I've enjoyed witnessing your accomplishments and helping on the federal level.

Let's talk about the beginning for a minute.

With a mission dedicated to bringing safe drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people, I recall working with a group of senators on the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System Act of 1999.

This bill came about to support the local efforts to ensure that folks had access to clean water.

Shallow wells and contamination were very real concerns for the water resources in this part of the state and country.

Murray Hulstein of Sioux Center, Red Arndt of Minnesota, Troy and others may recall some of these early efforts and conversations.

As you know from my standing here today, the passage of that bill came in 2000. Now that's not to say that since 2000 the path to get towns connected to the water system was easy.

However, the perseverance and dedication of many has led to this ribbon cutting to celebrate Sibley as the most recent town to get connected.

It has also provided hundreds of thousands of people access to clean and safe drinking water.

Since the 2000s, I've viewed my support for this initiative as an investment in our communities.

This investment was made possible because of the hard work of [those] here today and [those] who were champions for this effort in the past.

So, I'd like to close with a comment of gratitude.

Thank you to those with Lewis and Clark that have been tirelessly committed to improving their communities. Your work has made a real impact.

God bless you.

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