WASHINGTON D.C. -- Congressman Rangel today applauded the new federal partnership aimed at stimulating regional and local economies and protecting Americans’ health by revitalizing urban waterways in under-served communities across the country. The Bronx and Harlem River Watershed will be among the seven pilot locations for the Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP).

"Water is the blood of life. There is nothing more important than making sure all people have access to clean drinking water," Rangel said. "I am pleased that the Obama Administration is taking action to improve the quality of life for underserved communities in my Manhattan district and across the nation."

The UWFP is an innovative federal union comprised of 11 agencies led by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and coordinated by the White House Domestic Policy Council.

Americans use urban waterways like the Bronx and Harlem Watershed as sources of drinking water and for a variety of activities. Bronx and Harlem along with the Patapsco Watershed (Maryland), the Anacostia Watershed (Washington DC/Maryland), the Bronx & Harlem River Watersheds (New York), the South Platte River in Denver (Colorado), the Los Angeles River Watershed (California), the Lake Pontchartrain Area (New Orleans, LA), and the Northwest Indiana Area have restoration efforts underway, led by local governments and community organizations. Lessons learned from these locations will be transferred to other cities and will have a positive economic impact on local businesses, tourism and property values, as well as spur private investment and job creation in these communities.

"Working to repair the environment throughout our great nation will not only improve our standard of living in America now, but will create a stronger and cleaner nation for future generations," Rangel said. "Cleaning up the Bronx and Harlem River will save numerous lives by keeping my constituents safe from pollution-related illnesses and diseases. Investing in our underserved communities is not only a humanitarian matter, but also economical."