Like Local 3 News on Facebook: WASHINGTON—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Senator Todd Young (R-IN)Tuesday introduced bipartisan legislation to protect families living in assisted housing from lead found in drinking water.
The Get the Lead Out of Assisted Housing Act of 2018 would help protect families from lead exposure by requiring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to inspect for lead service lines, create a grant program to address lead contamination and allow a cross-check for lead in water when remediating a home for lead found in paint.
“My hometown of Flint knows all too well the consequences of lead in drinking water,” said Kildee.
This bipartisan bill would expand the way our country protects families from lead poisoning by requiring water testing for the first time in assisted housing.
Clean drinking water is not a partisan issue and I’m proud to work with Senator Duckworth and Senator Young on this important legislation.” “It’s unacceptable that families who are trying to get ahead can get sick by drinking water in their own homes because the requirements to check for lead in water aren’t in place to protect them,” Duckworth said.
I will keep working to ensure every family in America – no matter where they live – has access to clean and safe drinking water.” “No one should have to worry about the safety of their drinking water, but families are facing the threat of lead contamination in their homes and communities,” Young said.
“Our bipartisan legislation requires HUD to identify and address lead contamination at the source.
Activities under this grant program include creating a lead service line inventory, testing for lead in the drinking water at child care centers and schools, testing for lead at public facilities like public water fountains and remediation.
Including testing, notification, and controlling for lead in drinking water when providing grants for the lead-based paint hazard reduction program.
This will ensure that when a home that contains lead-based paint is being remediated, that lead in the drinking water can also be addressed if a threat exists in the same home.