Protecting Safe Drinking Water, Honoring Public Servants

Dear Friend,

Many Mississippians live in rural communities across the Magnolia State. This is why I have fought to help ensure that safe and affordable public drinking water is available in smaller municipalities.

Congress included a provision in its 2011 year-end funding package that I authored to modernize the much needed technical assistance and compliance training initiative to guarantee that federal regulations do not burden small water districts’ resources. Without these services, safe and clean water for rural Mississippians would be put in jeopardy.

On this note, one of Mississippi’s greatest advocates for preserving our rural environment was native Mississippian and former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director, Sam D. Hamilton. Sam had a long and personal history with the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, where he caught his first fish at age 5 and began his conservation career at age 15. This is why I introduced a bill renaming the refuge in his honor following his unexpected death in 2010.

I commend the president for signing these bills into law. Protecting access to safe drinking water for rural communities is necessary and renaming the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge after Sam is a fitting tribute to his remarkable career and commitment to wildlife conservation.

God bless,

Gregg Harper

Member of Congress