Senate Democrats Introduce "True LEADership Act" to Remove Lead from Pipes and Invest More in America's Crumbling Water Infrastructure

Press Release

Senate Democrats, led by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), today introduced the Testing, Removal and Updated Evaluations of Lead Everywhere in America for Dramatic Enhancements that Restore Safety to Homes, Infrastructure and Pipes Act of 2016, or True LEADership Act (S.2821), a comprehensive plan that recommits the federal government to a critical role in water infrastructure investment, lead remediation and the strong drinking water protections provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Incidents like the recent crisis in Flint, Michigan, underscore the dangers that can result when the safety of our drinking water and state of our water infrastructure is not made a priority. The True LEADership Act will have nationwide reach, addressing the scourge of lead-laden water and housing across the country. It also will improve our nation's water infrastructure, while creating thousands of new jobs.

"We urgently need to minimize the risks to our communities and our children. Urban, rural and suburban neighborhoods -- in every community in America -- all rely on safe, clean water. Our health and our livelihoods will continue to be in danger if we do not act swiftly and decisively," said Senator Cardin. "We can and must immediately do more as a country to better protect our waters and our kids, and the True LEADership Act will help us do exactly that."

Reforms included in the True LEADership Act include:

Increasing investments in our water infrastructure, particularly through a new grant program specifically designed for projects that reduce lead in tap water
Establishing a mandatory, nationwide requirement for states to report elevated levels of lead in children
Establishing mandatory testing and notification of lead in water systems
Key reforms to HUD authorities and a new tax credit for homeowners to remove lead
A new grant program for schools to aid children with the effects of lead poisoning
Accelerates development of new water technologies

This new legislation, through a combination of loans, grants and tax credits, would inject over $70 billion over the next 10 years into water infrastructure and lead relief programs. For every public dollar we invest in upgrading our water infrastructure, our GDP grows by more than $6.

Original co-sponsors of the True LEADership Act include U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Penn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.).

"The contaminated water crisis in Flint, Michigan is a tragic example of what happens when we focus too much on spending cuts and not enough on protecting families," said Senator Durbin. "The crisis also exposed a nationwide lead problem that has not spared my home state of Illinois. Today's legislation represents a comprehensive approach to updating national standards, putting the proper protections in place and allocating the necessary resources to address lead contamination."

"Clean water that's free of lead should be a right in the United States, not a privilege. The crises in Michigan, Ohio, New York, and around the country need to be a wake-up call to Congress to act," said Senator Schumer. "I hope our Republican colleagues will join us in supporting and passing this common-sense legislation."

"What happened in Flint never should have happened. This crisis has brought awareness about the dangers of lead in other communities in Michigan and across the country and a sense of urgency about the important investments needed so families have safe, clean drinking water," said Senator Stabenow. "Senator Peters and I are fully committed to passing our agreement to help Flint and other communities address serious lead and water problems. Today, I join my colleagues in introducing legislation that makes additional investments in water infrastructure and lead remediation in communities across America."

"The lead poisoning of children in Flint, Michigan, is a national tragedy. The American people have a right to expect safe, clean water when they turn on their faucets, and no child should be afraid of being poisoned in their own home," said Senator Boxer. "That is why it is so important that my colleagues and I are introducing this comprehensive legislation today that addresses lead contaminated water, provides much-needed investment in our drinking water infrastructure, and will improve our response to a future drinking water crisis."

"Our children and our citizens are being poisoned by the water they drink and the paint where they live. The time is now to address this national, self-induced, self-inflicted crisis," said Senator Mikulski. "I've stood up against the scourge of lead poisoning my entire career, and am still fighting today. This week, the Transportation-HUD bill is moving through the Senate Appropriations Committee. We're fighting to put funds in the federal checkbook to get lead out of our communities. It's time for Congress to do its job by supporting this bill, supporting the THUD Appropriations Bill and supporting emergency funding for Flint today."

"The water crisis in Flint should never happen anywhere in the United States of America," said Senator Peters. "While the Flint water crisis represents an immense failure on the part of the State of Michigan to protect the health and safety of the City's residents, Congress should take action to both help the people of Flint and address the serious challenges presented by our nation's aging water infrastructure. The True LEADership Act will prioritize safe drinking water and updated infrastructure to better protect Americans' health, and I am proud to join my colleagues in support of this legislation."

"Lead poisoning is a preventable tragedy, but effective programs designed to reduce lead exposure and prevent water contamination have gone underfunded for years. This package of legislation includes needed reforms, but we also need to increase funding to help parents protect their children from lead hazards that may already be present in their homes," said Senator Reed.

"If we begin to prioritize investments in infrastructure, if we choose to address outdated standards and upgrade obsolete equipment, we can give communities a fighting chance and protect children and families from lead contamination," said Senator Menendez. "We should be doing better than relying on century-old pipes and decades-old standards. This package provides a comprehensive response to our national lead public health emergency: safeguarding our drinking water; updating our standards; putting people to work; repairing aging water systems; keeping lead out of our homes; helping our communities; and protecting our children and our future."

"The color of your skin, the neighborhood you call home, and your net worth shouldn't determine your availability of clean and safe drinking water. The CLEARR Drinking Water Act helps ensure the EPA addresses drinking water concerns in disadvantaged communities by allowing the direct request of drinking water quality testing and by initiating partnerships with community and scientific organizations," said Senator Markey. "I am proud to stand with my Democratic colleagues to introduce a comprehensive legislative package aimed at bringing our water infrastructure into the 21st century, giving justice to the people of Flint, and helping to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again."

"Even though we've known for a long time about its terrible effects, lead is still a serious threat in cities across the country, from Providence to Flint," said Senator Whitehouse. "It's time to face the lead crisis head-on. This bill will do that by overhauling our water infrastructure and promoting lead clean-up through provisions like my lead abatement tax credit. I encourage my Republican colleagues to act swiftly on this important measure."

"It is deplorable that in the year 2016, any American would have to fear lead poisoning from their drinking water," said Senator Merkley. "This situation is absolutely unacceptable and demands immediate action. I'm proud to join with my colleagues to put forward a serious plan to get lead out of our water, including by making available affordable financing to update and repair drinking water systems across the country through my WIFIA program."

"Communities across the United States are facing serious challenges in protecting their water supplies to keep families and their children safe," said Senator Baldwin. "The historic failure seen in Flint should serve as a call to act quickly and comprehensively to invest in better solutions to confront water problems throughout the country by building a modern, made in America water infrastructure."