December 16, 2021

Duckworth Applauds White House Action to Begin Implementing Her New Law Through the Lead Service Line Replacement Plan

This action plan builds off the programs and priorities in Duckworth’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act that was signed into law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

 

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works’ (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water & Wildlife and author of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA)—which passed the Senate by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote in April 2021 and was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal—issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration, alongside EPA, announced plans to immediately get to work removing lead service lines:

“No American—no matter where they live, the color of their skin or the size of their wallet—should worry that their families are being poisoned by dangerous chemicals like lead in their water or in their homes and schools,” said Duckworth. “I’m so pleased that the Biden Administration agrees and has announced a comprehensive plan that will begin implementing my Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, which was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, to get the lead out of all communities while prioritizing environmental justice communities that are disproportionately impacted by these life-threatening issues. The action plan announced today will accelerate our work to eradicate lead by empowering the federal government to enforce regulations, take action to assist communities in need and create good paying jobs in the process. I’m proud to support this plan and will do all I can to make sure we achieve our goals.”

The action plan from the White House represents a historic effort to deploy resources and use every tool available across all levels of government to deliver clean drinking water, replace lead pipes and remediate lead paint.

Duckworth’s DWWIA passed unanimously out of the EPW committee and in April, passed the Senate by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 89-2. It was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal that President Biden signed into law.

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