Issue Position: Lead in D.C.'s Water Investigated and Cleared Up

Issue Position

Although D.C.'s water has been below the legal lead limit of 15 ppb for five years, most recently showing a lead level of 6 ppb, Norton questioned witnesses at two hearings after a House Committee on Science and Technology subcommittee found that during D.C.'s lead-in-the-water crisis from 2001 to 2004, District children had elevated blood lead levels in 2002 and 2003 that were more than three times higher than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had reported. The CDC confirmed the findings in a recent report. Norton also met with CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden. Federal and local agencies are following up to ensure that there was no permanent damage to residents. Norton also will reintroduce the Lead-Free Drinking Water Act, which she introduced in the wake of D.C.'s water crisis to address lead standards for the nation's drinking water.

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