Statement by Congressman Dan Kildee on President Trump’s Lead Action Plan

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Lead Action Plan that fails to address important measures to protect families from lead exposure:

"Despite its name, this new plan lacks any real action to protect children and families from lead exposure. Administrator Wheeler, just like his predecessor Scott Pruitt, appears to be all talk and no action. Buried in today's announcement is the fact that the EPA will delay updating the federal Lead and Copper Rule, which has not been updated in more than 25 years. The Trump Administration also continues to fail to test for lead in drinking water at all federally assisted housing.

"Outdated laws and weak lead testing guidelines contributed to the water crisis in my hometown of Flint. That is why I've introduced bills to update the Lead and Copper Rule and require testing for lead in drinking water at all federally assisted housing. These bills would result in real action to keep our children safe from lead."

Congressman Kildee previously introduced the National Opportunity for Lead Exposure Accountability and Deterrence (NO LEAD) Act on November 14, 2016, and again on October 25, 2017, with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). This comprehensive legislation would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to update the Lead and Copper Rule within nine months. The bill also would improve lead testing procedures by banning techniques that disguise lead levels in water and prioritize testing for facilities with pregnant mothers and children. Additionally, it would provide more information to the public on the safety of their drinking water and lowers the level of lead contamination in drinking water that would trigger when a public water system must act to remove lead from drinking water.

Congressman Kildee, working again with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Todd Young (R-IN), introduced the Get the Lead Out of Assisted Housing Act on September 25, 2018. This bipartisan bill would help protect families from lead exposure by requiring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 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 at federally assisted housing.