Bill > HR6060

This bill establishes a new grant program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help local governments, drinking water systems, and federally recognized Native American Tribes replace lead, galvanized steel, and iron service lines and lead drinking water mains. The legislation recognizes the significant public health risks posed by lead in drinking water, noting that there is no safe level of lead exposure and that an estimated 9.2 million lead service lines exist across the United States. The grant program is designed to address financial barriers that prevent many communities, especially those that are financially distressed or disadvantaged, from replacing lead infrastructure through existing loan programs. Eligible project costs include replacing service lines, planning and designing replacements, updating service line inventories, and restoring replacement sites. The bill also mandates that all construction work funded by these grants must pay workers prevailing wages under the Davis-Bacon Act. Importantly, the legislation aims to ensure equitable and efficient replacement of lead infrastructure to protect public health and advance environmental justice, acknowledging that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, while providing a significant initial investment, did not fully address the substantial funding needed for comprehensive lead service line replacement.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6060/all-info