©2026 League of Conservation Voters
1979 Scorecard Vote
319
76
39
H.R. 3509. The vote is on the Waxman motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill to extend the Safe Drinking Water Act for another three years and to authorize $236.6 million to implement the Act. This vote was important and controversial for two reasons. First, the Environmental Protection Agency was planning to require more stringent treatment technologies to control cancer causing chemicals in drinking water, such as carbon filtration systems or equivalent technologies. Second, the EPA was planning to enforce sections in the law designed to prevent the oil companies from contaminating groundwater by using improper underground injection techniques to extract their oil. Thus both the oil companies and big water utilities wanted to weaken the Act, but it passed in good shape, 318-76. The Carter Administration supported the Act. July 30, 1979. Yes is the correct vote.
©2026 League of Conservation Voters