House Challenges Reagan, Repasses Water Bill 406-8 : Senate Also Expected to Approve It

The House, feisty in its first legislative vote of the 100th Congress, today overwhelmingly approved a $20-billion clean water bill that President Reagan vetoed late last year despite unanimous congressional support.

The House vote was 406 to 8 in favor of the eight-year Water Quality Act of 1987, which authorizes spending about $18 billion through 1994 for construction and upgrading of sewage treatment systems and $2 billion more for other clean water projects.

The Senate plans to take up the measure Monday and also is expected to approve it.

Even though the measure passed both the House and Senate in 1986, Reagan called it a “budget buster” and vetoed it. His pocket veto came after Congress adjourned last fall, and lawmakers had no chance to override.

In a strong show of continued support, the measure was the first bill introduced in both chambers when the 100th Congress convened Tuesday.

“H.R. 1 is not a budget buster,” said Rep. James J. Howard (D-N.J.), chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee. “The President made a mistake in vetoing the bill, and it’s up to us to give him a second chance.”

Half Earlier Amount

Howard said that the bill calls for spending $2.25 billion a year--half the $5 billion that used to be spent annually--and that of the $18 billion for sewage treatment, $8 billion is in loans after 1990.

Reagan wanted a $6-billion clean water bill last year but supports legislation costing $12 billion this year. He has said he may veto a $20-billion version.

Senate Republican leader Bob Dole of Kansas introduced Reagan’s $12-billion alternative and may offer it as an amendment to the $20-billion bill when the Senate takes up the measure.

But Sen. Robert T. Stafford (R-Vt.) said he thinks that there are enough votes to keep the more expensive version, which he supports.

New House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.) said he “would hope the President would have the good taste and good judgment . . . to sign the bill” this year.

Wright said the bill’s cost is “well within” congressional budget limits and noted that it provides only one-sixth of the money the Environmental Protection Agency says is needed.

Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes

The comprehensive bill affects nearly every aspect of the nation’s water quality program. It protects the Chesapeake Bay, tightens provisions on ocean dumping and extends the Clean Lakes and Great Lakes programs.

Sponsors said the bill, completed after four years of work, has the support of business, labor, environmentalists and state and local governments.

In addition to sewage treatment provisions, the bill provides $400 million for a new state-federal program to control water pollution runoff from streets, farmland, construction sites and mines. It also imposes tighter controls on toxic pollutants.

An existing program to improve water quality in lakes would be strengthened, with $15 million of the program’s total $85 million going to aid lakes damaged by acid rain.