Akron and its overflowing sewers could be a major beneficiary of a proposal Ohio's two U.S. senators advanced Wednesday.

Sen. George Voinovich, a Republican, and Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, have teamed to introduce federal legislation designed to aid 86 financially strapped Ohio communities facing sewer mandates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

''It is clear that we are facing an environmental and public health crisis in this country,'' Voinovich said. ''We cannot expect cities to spend millions of dollars for water infrastructure upgrades without help from the federal government.''

Added Brown, ''Too many communities are struggling to afford costly but necessary upgrades to sewer systems.''

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