A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for each of fiscal years 1994 through 1998 for the construction of wastewater treatment works to serve United States colonias by providing water pollution control in the vicinity of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 23, 1994

Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide financial assistance to any U.S. State along the U.S.-Mexican border or to any entity designated by the President for construction of treatment works to serve U.S. colonias in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Bases the determination of whether a community is a colonia on objective criteria, including lack of potable water supply or adequate sewage systems. Limits Federal funding to 50 percent of construction costs. Authorizes appropriations.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM] · D–NM

Committees

Environment and Public Works Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 23, 1994
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Jun 23, 1994
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7575-7576)
Jun 23, 1994
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jun 23, 1994 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 4478 · U.S. Colonias Water Pollution Control Act

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.2232 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2232, 103rd Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for each of fiscal years 1994 through 1998 for the construction of wastewater treatment works to serve United States colonias by providing water pollution control in the vicinity of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/2232

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1994-06-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s2232/BILLS-103s2232is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.2232 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.2232 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2232, 103rd Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for each of fiscal years 1994 through 1998 for the construction of wastewater treatment works to serve United States colonias by providing water pollution control in the vicinity of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/2232

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1994-06-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s2232/BILLS-103s2232is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2232 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.2232 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2232, 103rd Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for each of fiscal years 1994 through 1998 for the construction of wastewater treatment works to serve United States colonias by providing water pollution control in the vicinity of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/2232

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1994-06-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s2232/BILLS-103s2232is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2232 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.2232 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2232, 103rd Congress: A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for each of fiscal years 1994 through 1998 for the construction of wastewater treatment works to serve United States colonias by providing water pollution control in the vicinity of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/2232

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1994-06-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s2232/BILLS-103s2232is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2232 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.