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Hartford, CT, March 14, 2006—Audubon Connecticut joined together with other environmental, municipal, and labor groups today at the Capitol as part of the Clean Water Investment Coalition calling for the restoration of bond funding for the state's major environmental infrastructure assistance program for municipalities – The Clean Water Fund.

"Audubon Connecticut strongly supports the legislation being proposed today that will restore $70 million for the state's Clean Water Fund. This funding is more important than ever to ensure the health of our lakes, rivers, streams, and Long Island Sound," said Tom Baptist, Executive Director for Audubon Connecticut. "Federal dollars are being slashed this year, and the state's failure to support clean water efforts is a double whammy."

"We are at a critical crossroad," Baptist continued, "especially with regard to progress toward nitrogen reduction in Long Island Sound. After 20 years of leadership, now is not the time to start backing away from our commitment to clean water. Instead of nickel and diming this key program, we should be investing in a future of clean water for our children and their children."

"At the current level of $20 million in funding for FY06 and FY07, the DEP will only be able to fund one in five projects previously planned for FY06 and only one in seven for FY07. The agency estimates that it needs an additional $93 million in funds (of which the $70 proposed in this legislation would be a large part), in addition to a return to $50 million in annual funding starting in FY08 to get clean water projects back on track. Unless the General Assembly takes action this year, efforts to clean up the waters of our state, and ultimately Long Island Sound, will grind to a halt.

Audubon urges state lawmakers to support this legislation (H.B. 5624) and restore general obligation bond funding for the state's Clean Water Fund. We owe it to future generations to leave a legacy of clean, pure water, and, with passage of this bill, we have the means to accomplish that goal."

Audubon Connecticut is the state organization of the National Audubon Society with more than 10,000 members statewide. Audubon works to protect birds, other wildlife and their habitats using education, science and conservation, and legislative advocacy for the benefit of people and the earth’s biological diversity.