Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Get the Lead Out Initiative
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Get the Lead Out (GLO) Initiative that will help ensure safer drinking water for communities as part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.
According to The Environmental Protection Agency, “An estimated 9.2 million pipes that provide drinking water to homes across the United States still contain lead, and they are most commonly found in older homes. This means they disproportionately impact families with the fewest resources to remove them. That’s why this new initiative is so critical – it will provide the kind of assistance that’s needed to accelerate the removal of lead where it’s needed most,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, EPA is positioned to help connect more communities to historic federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and move our country closer to President Biden’s goal of getting 100% of lead pipes out of water-once and for all.”
“Clean water is essential to our health and wellbeing. Yet, lead service lines exist in every state across our country, carrying drinking water to millions of homes and putting families at risk of a number of serious health problems,” said Senator Tom Carper, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (DE). “Thanks to our unprecedented investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is helping provide more communities with the necessary tools to find and replace sources of lead in their drinking water systems. I applaud the Biden Administration for their work to ensure that more Americans have access to safe, reliable, and clean drinking water, especially those with the greatest need.”
“Every American has a fundamental right to clean, safe drinking water. That’s why I fought to make sure that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included funding to remove and replace dangerous lead service lines that continue to contaminate millions of Americans’ drinking water,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr (NJ-06). “Today’s announcement from EPA ensures that hundreds of communities across the country will soon get the resources they need and the relief they deserve to address this public health crisis. I’m grateful that EPA and the Biden Administration have been such strong partners in this fight, and I look forward to the day when every family can trust the water coming out of their tap.”
“President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that no parent should have to worry that their child might be exposed to lead when they take a sip of water,” said Senior Advisor to President Biden and White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu. “That’s exactly why the President’s Investing in America agenda includes a historic $50 billion to deliver safe, clean water across America. Through this initiative, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we can provide resources needed to reach our goal of removing every lead service line in the country.”
