September 25, 2024 Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined forces to urge the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which aim to lower the lead action level to better protect public health and require water systems to replace aging lead pipes within a decade.
Duckworth and Booker, co-founders of the new U.S. Senate Lead Task Force and the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, were joined by U.S. Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), and Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). In their letter, the lawmakers stressed the importance of finalizing the LCRI by the October 16 deadline to ensure these vital improvements can be implemented as quickly as possible.
The letter outlined the risks if the proposed LCRI is not finalized by October 16: “If the rule is not finalized by October 16, water systems and states will be required to start complying immediately with the deeply problematic Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) from the previous administration, which poses a risk to public health.” They further warned that temporary implementation of the LCRR could create regulatory confusion, waste precious resources, and hinder the realization of the full benefits of the LCRI.
In addition to preventing water systems from being forced to comply with the previous administration’s LCRR, the lawmakers highlighted that swiftly finalizing the LCRI would ensure the effective use of the $15 billion allocated for lead pipe replacement and an additional $11.7 billion in grants, loans, and principal forgiveness made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These funds will help communities rebuild aging and dangerous water infrastructure.
The letter received support from multiple senators, including Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). In the House, in addition to Lisa Blunt Rochester, Rashida Tlaib, Debbie Dingell, and Barbara Lee, the letter was co-signed by Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL-10), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Daniel Kildee (D-MI-08), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Linda Sánchez (D-CA-38), John Sarbanes (D-MA-03), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-07), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-13), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Patrick Ryan (D-NY-18), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Katie Porter (D-CA-47), David J. Trone (D-MD-06), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-08), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Gerald Connolly (D-VA-11), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), and Darren Soto (D-FL-09).
The letter reflects a strong commitment to public health and environmental justice, as Duckworth and Booker expressed their eagerness to continue working with the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure all communities have access to safe, lead-free drinking water.
