I would think everyone would favor the long-term health of living things on the planet over short-term profit and political expediency.

If the following legislation passes, however, we will have a list of people in Congress who do not believe this.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., plans to introduce an amendment to the omnibus appropriations bill. This combination of appropriations bills, including the Energy and Water bill, should not contain an amendment that would wipe out national Clean Water Act pollution limits for streams, brooks, wetlands, lakes and other waters in every state.

The public wants clean water for drinking water, for our families, for swimming and fishing, and for healthy communities.

The federal Clean Water Act is the country’s No. 1 law protecting water from toxic contamination and other pollution.

For decades, this law has protected rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes and coastal waters. Without it, all of our nation’s waters will be more polluted and potentially unsafe.

A vote for the Barrasso amendment is a vote for dirty water. I urge our senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, to oppose the Barrasso amendment’s attack on clean water.

Harvey Versteeg

Augusta