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WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration announced its Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan:

“The only way to get safe, clean water into Michigan communities – and communities across the country – is to immediately replace all lead service lines. In Michigan’s 12^th District alone, we know there’s a minimum of over 10,000 existing lead service lines with another 11,000 or so that likely have lead. I’ve had parents come up to me with tears in their eyes, worried for the wellbeing of their children because there is lead in the school’s water. This is unacceptable.

“So I’ve led efforts in the House to secure funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – and in Build Back Better – to replace these pipes and finally give a sense of peace to parents and families across the state. I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for their commitment to this issue and for their collaboration to get this done.

“Throughout this Action Plan, one thing is clear: it’s going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to get rid of these pipes. I won’t stop fighting until all of these dollars are used efficiently to replace lead pipes nationwide. I am continuing to be hands-on across all levels of government to develop the plan for getting the money to our cities, executing plans to replace the pipes, accurately testing our children, and monitoring lead levels across the country.”

Dingell has long led the fight on ensuring safe, clean, and affordable drinking water for every single American and continues to prioritize the full replacement of lead service lines nationwide. Dingell successfully secured billions to replace lead pipes through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and also introduced legislation to address the water debt crisis and urged for a federal response to water shutoffs during the pandemic last year.

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