XXXX Voted For Funding National Parks, Clean Water, Fire Fighting. In October 2009, XXXX voted for the conference report for the Interior-Environment Appropriations bill that would provide $32.3 billion in discretionary funds, $4.7 billion more than fiscal 2009 levels when stimulus funds are excluded. The measure would provide $10.3 billion to the EPA, a level that reflects a 35 percent increase over regular fiscal 2009 funding and includes a 67 percent increase for programs addressing global climate change. Even Senate GOP Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander supported the bill, saying “My preference, if I were the king, I wouldn’t spend this much money on this bill this year. This is a tough time. But I doubt Americans will begrudge spending on national parks, on clean water and on firefighting.” Democrats maintained the increase was justified by cuts for the bill’s programs by the George W. Bush administration and congressional Republicans. The bill also contained continuing resolution that would fund the federal government through Dec. 18. The bill passed 72-28. [CQ Today, 10/29/09; Vote 331, 10/29/09] XXXX Voted For Water Resources Development Act. In 2007, XXXX voted for the Water Resources Development Act, which provided for water resources development projects. The bill marked the first time congress reauthorized the bill since 2000. [Environment and Energy Daily, 5/17/07; Vote 170, 5/16/07] XXXX Voted Against Appropriations for the Clean Water Loan Fund. In 2003, XXXX voted against an amendment that added $3 billion to the EPA’s clean water loan fund for sewer and waste water contamination and designated the additional funding as emergency spending. The amendment provided $122.7 billion in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. [Vote 449, 11/12/03] XXXX Voted to Keep Funding for Backwater Pump Project in Mississippi. In 2003, XXXX was one of 67 senators who voted against an amendment to reduce funding for the Yazoo Backwater Pump Project, in Mississippi, and require a study to determine if the project is environmentally safe, technically sound, and economically justified. The Yazoo Backwater Pump, which will be the largest hydraulic pump plant in the world if and when it is completed, “would decrease flooding and improve the quality of life in the Delta,” according to proponents, “but many environmentalists say it will destroy protected wetlands. Sens. Trent Lott and Thad Cochran, both R-Miss., and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said the pump project will protect more than 1,000 homes from flooding on more than 62,000 acres.” “The Yazoo Pump project was authorized in 1941 as an extension of the Flood Control Act of 1929, which placed all flood control in the Mississippi Valley in the hands of the federal government. The act followed the Great Flood of 1927, which killed 500 people, and left 700,000 people homeless in the lower Mississippi River Delta.” “Mississippi’s Big Sunflower River is the second most endangered river in the country, according to a report by the environmental advocacy group American Rivers. The Big Sunflower joins the Yazoo River near Vicksburg and empties into the Mississippi. American Rivers said the river is endangered because of plans by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge and pump the river.” “‘We think it is one of the biggest boondoggles ever to pass the U.S. Senate. It is a black mark on the Senate and a dark day for the environment and for the taxpayers,’” said Peter Kelley, vice president of communications for the environmental advocacy group. “‘It going to destroy 200,000 acres of wetlands. That’s about the size of Fort Worth, Texas, and its actually four times as much wetlands as they’re going to restore in the Florida everglades.’” [HJ Res 2, Vote 23, 1/23/03; Associated Press, 01/24/03] XXXX Voted to Allow Army Corps of Engineers to Use $5 Million to Construct and Devil’s Lake Outlet Regardless of Environmental and Economic Study. In 2003, XXXX voted against an effort to prohibit the use of $5 million by the Army Corps of Engineers for constructing an outlet at Devil's Lake in North Dakota unless a study determined that the project was environmentally safe, economically justified and technically sound. McCain’s amendment was aimed at scaling back earmarks in the omnibus. [HJ Res 2, Vote 22, 1/23/03] XXXX Voted For EPA Study to Determine If Hydraulic Fracturing Was Contaminating Drinking Water Wells and Depleting Ground Water. In 2002, XXXX voted to require the EPA to study whether hydraulic fracturing was contaminating drinking water wells and depleting ground water. The study would determine if hydraulic fracturing required further regulation. A dispute rose on whether underground injection used in hydraulic fracturing should be treated as underground injection of waste under the Safe Water Drinking Act (SWDA) and be regulated accordingly. [S 517, Vote 43, 3/7/02; Oil Daily, 3/7/02] 118