For Immediate Release
April 18, 2016
CONTACTS:
Amber Moon (Peters) 202-224-6573
**MEDIA ADVISORY**
WEDNESDAY: Senate Democrats to Introduce Comprehensive Legislative Package to Remove Lead from Pipes and Invest More in America’s Crumbling Water Infrastructure
Through a combination of loans, grants and tax credits, the TRUE LEADership Act 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 America’s water infrastructure, our GDP grows by more than $6
Wednesday, April 20 at 11:45AM, Senate Democrats, led by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), will introduce theTesting, 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, 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 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 an effect nationwide, addressing the scourge of lead-laden water and housing and improving our nation’s water infrastructure, while creating thousands of new clean water jobs. Reforms included in the legislative package 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 creates a new tax credit for homeowners to remove lead
· A new grant program for schools to aid children with the after 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.
WHO: U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.)
U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.)
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.)
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.)
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.)
WHAT: Introduction of Comprehensive Proposal to Repair America’s Crumbling Water Infrastructure and Remove Toxic Lead from Our Communities
WHERE: Senate Radio-TV Gallery (S. 325)
WHEN: Wednesday, April 20 at 11:45AM
