Polluted stormwater runoff can contain heavy metals, oil and gas, and huge volumes of sediment. For that reason, roads, highways, parking lots, and other paved surfaces are the largest source of water pollution in coastal areas today, according to EPA.

In its original form, the Senate version of the transportation bill (H.R. 3) included a stormwater cleanup program championed by Senators John Warner (R-VA), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), and Jim Jeffords (I-VT). The program would provide communities across America with nearly $900 million over six years to manage flooding and pollution caused by runoff from roads and highways.

Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) offered an amendment to strike this provision. On April 28, 2005, the Senate voted to table (kill) Bond's Senate Amendment 592 by a 51-49 vote (Senate roll call vote 113). YES is the pro-environment vote. The stormwater cleanup provision was later removed in House-Senate conference.