Washington, D.C. – Third District Representative Walter B. Jones today announced that $13 million in funding for the National Rural Water Association has been included in H.R. 2996, the recently passed Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2010. This funding will be used to provide rural water technical assistance, including source water and ground water protection, to help small rural communities protect their drinking water quality and comply with federal mandates.

“I am extremely pleased that Rep. Bob Etheridge’s and my request for continued funding for the National Rural Water Association has been included in H.R. 2996, and was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 26, 2009,” Congressman Jones said. “I have long been concerned with ensuring that Eastern North Carolina’s rural communities are able to maintain access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water. During these tough economic times, it is especially important that rural communities are given the assistance they need to comply with unfunded federal mandates.”