Statement by Congressman Dan Kildee on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule Announcement

Statement

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new Lead and Copper Rule:
"The Trump administration's new Lead and Copper Rule fails to protect public health. I have long advocated that the Lead and Copper Rule is outdated and needs to be updated. But today's rule allows millions of toxic lead pipes to remain in the ground. Sadly, it will do nothing to stop the next Flint water crisis from happening in other communities across the country.

"Instead of taking bold steps to produce a new rule that is based on science, this rule is based merely on convenience. Doctors and experts tell us there is no safe level of lead. Yet this new rule allows high levels of lead in drinking water. The Trump administration's new rule actually allows toxic lead pipes to remain in operation, even after they are identified and there are high levels of lead in the water, for up to three decades. Simply put, this new rule is too weak to protect the health of the American people.

"The Flint water crisis should have taught policymakers at all levels of government that we must get serious about removing lead from our water systems. In Congress, I successfully secured $170 million to help Flint be able to replace all of its lead service lines. But the Trump administration's weak Lead and Copper Rule leaves millions of families vulnerable to lead exposure in their drinking water."

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