Get the Lead Out of Assisted Housing Act of 2022
This bill addresses the removal of lead from drinking water in federally assisted housing. Specifically, the bill
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7516 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7516
To improve the removal of lead from drinking water in public housing.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 14, 2022
Mr. Kildee (for himself, Mr. Payne, Mr. Cuellar, Mrs. Walorski, Mr.
Gottheimer, and Ms. Roybal-Allard) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve the removal of lead from drinking water in public housing.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Get the Lead Out of Assisted Housing
Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(3) Lead service line.--The term ``lead service line'' has
the meaning given the term in section 1459B(a) of the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-19b(a)).
(4) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the
program for providing grants established under section 6(a).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) lead is a dangerous neurotoxin that can permanently
impact brain development, especially in young children;
(2) the Centers for Disease Control, the Environmental
Protection Agency, the American Association of Pediatrics, and
many other entities have determined that there is no safe level
of lead exposure;
(3) for vulnerable populations like young children,
pregnant mothers, and the elderly, exposure to lead can be life
altering;
(4) evidence is mounting that the lead in drinking water
problem in the United States is grossly underestimated and
inadequately addressed;
(5) according to the Environmental Protection Agency, lead
service lines are the single largest source of lead in drinking
water; and
(6) partial lead service line replacement, where only a
portion of a lead service line is replaced, can increase lead
exposure.
SEC. 4. UNIFORM PHYSICAL CONDITION STANDARDS.
The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall amend
the physical condition standards set forth in section 5.703 of title
24, Code of Federal Regulations, to require that--
(1) the entities responsible for maintaining housing
inspect building systems to determine, using tests that
incorporate the best available technology and science, if--
(A) there are lead service lines; or
(B) there is lead in the interior plumbing; and
(2) if a lead service line is found or lead is found in a
service line that connects to the interior plumbing of the
housing at the water meter, the entity responsible for
maintaining the housing shall--
(A) not later than 1 day after the date on which
the lead is found, notify each tenant of the housing
that the lead was found and of precautions that should
be taken to reduce exposure;
(B) disclose that information within 30 days to any
drinking water provider relevant to the housing;
(C) provide necessary interim measures to reduce
exposure to the lead, such as water filters designed to
remove lead and other innovative technologies, based on
guidance from the Administrator; and
(D) prohibit the partial replacement of lead
service lines.
SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO INSPECT ALL SOURCES OF LEAD.
The Secretary may inspect all sources of lead contamination in
housing assisted by a program of the Department and work in
coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency to mitigate
sources of lead exposure, including as a result of water from the
public water supply, and ambient air levels, or industrial emissions.
SEC. 6. HEALTHY HOMES LEAD IN DRINKING WATER PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall begin providing
grants to State and local governments responsible for
developing consolidated plans under part 91 of title 24, Code
of Federal Regulations.
(2) Purpose.--The Secretary shall design the grants under
the pilot program to--
(A) identify lead service lines and other sources
of lead in drinking water serving housing units and
take steps to remediate those threats; and
(B) optimize corrosion control treatment in public
water systems serving housing units.
(b) Activities.--A State or local government receiving a grant
under the pilot program shall prioritize the following activities:
(1) Creating an inventory of lead service lines, which
shall--
(A) be published on the website of the State or
local government; and
(B) involve--
(i) working with public water systems (as
such term is defined in section 1401 of the
Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f)) that
may have a similar inventory;
(ii) inspecting for lead service lines at
their entry point into a building using methods
that do not disturb the pipe;
(iii) conducting an inspection of visible
pipes at all access points; and
(iv) prioritizing buildings based on the
age of the building, historical records, and
the size of the service line.
(2) Testing for lead in the drinking water at child care
facilities and schools, providing interim measures to reduce
exposure to the lead, and providing remediation, when
appropriate.
(3) Testing for lead in the drinking water at water
fountains in public facilities, providing interim measures to
reduce exposure to the lead, and providing remediation, when
appropriate.
SEC. 7. HEALTHY HOMES AND LEAD HAZARD CONTROL OFFICE.
(a) In General.--The Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy
Homes of the Department shall, when providing grants for lead-based
paint hazard reduction in target housing under section 1011 of the
Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C.
4852)--
(1) ensure that testing for lead in drinking water is
conducted;
(2) require notification of tenants of the level of lead in
drinking water found; and
(3) offer interim controls, such as the installation of
water filters known to remove lead.
(b) Use of Funds for Replacement.--The Secretary shall allow
recipients of assistance from the Office of Lead Hazard Control and
Healthy Homes of the Department or another program of the Department to
use the funds to replace leaded water fixtures and lead service lines.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
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