Congressman Dan Goldman Applauds Biden Administration Rule Requiring Replacement of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years, Following Letter Urging Improvements
Decision Follows Bicameral Letter Goldman Joined in Sending in September to OMB Urging Finalization of Lead and Copper Rule Improvements
New York to Receive $116,298,000 in Drinking Water Infrastructure Funding Through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today commended the Biden-Harris Administration’s decision to finalize the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which require drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. In addition to the announced final rule, the Environmental Protection Agency also announced $116,298,000 in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding to support lead pipe replacement and inventory projects across the State of New York.
In September, Goldman joined Senate Lead Task Force Co-founders Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and 78 House and Senate Democrats in calling on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of the Biden Administration’s proposed LCRI, which would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade.
“With nearly 14,000 potential lead service lines still in use across NY-10, removing dangerous toxins from our water is an urgent need,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Earlier this year, I proudly supported the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements that will give our communities access to better data about lead exposure so we can take action to protect residents. Let's continue to ensure that our communities' health and safety always comes first.”
The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold forcommunities to take action on lead in drinking water to protect people from lead exposure. In addition, the final rule improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes, and plans for replacing them.
According to the New York League of Conservation Voters, there are 209,321 potential lead service lines across New York City, with 129,245 of them confirmed to contain lead. In New York’s Tenth Congressional District, which covers Lower Manhattan and parts of Southwest Brooklyn, there are 7,979 confirmed lead service lines and as many as 13,690 potential lead service lines still in use.
The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements will help protect millions of Americans from exposure to lead in drinking water. EPA estimates that on average, every year after the LCRI is issued it will:
Protect up to 900,000 infants from having low birthweight.
Prevent Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in up to 2,600 children.
Reduce up to 1,500 cases of premature death from heart disease.
Prevent up to 200,000 IQ points lost in children.
Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to upgrading infrastructure in schools and neighborhoods across the building to keep residents safe and healthy.
As part of the appropriations process, Goldman requested $4 million in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for the New York City Housing Authority to upgrade water infrastructure at the Rutger Houses Development by replacing the buildings’ rooftop water tanks. The upgrades include replacing the tanks themselves, along with related piping, pump controls, and any associated painting or improvements to rooftop structures.
In December of 2023, the Congressman cosponsored the ‘Green New Deal for Public Schools,’ which would invest $1.6 trillion in our public education system over 10 years to improve clean energy infrastructure, invest in schools serving low-income students, and provide schools with the resources to hire hundreds of thousands of needed educators, paraprofessionals, and staff, including counselors, to support student mental health.
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