Sen. Jon Ossoff Gains Bipartisan Support for Major Drinking Water Safety Funding Increase
Georgia U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff has taken a major step toward securing a significant funding increase for a federal program designed to remove lead from drinking water systems across the nation.
Ossoff’s amendment, which would boost funding for the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program by nearly 50%, has passed the Senate Appropriations Committee with bipartisan support. The funding is part of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies spending package.
Why It Matters
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is “no known safe level of lead in a child’s blood”. Even small amounts can cause serious, lasting physical and behavioral health problems.
Lead often enters water supplies through old, corroded pipes. The EPA notes that it can be present without visible changes in the water’s color or smell. Millions of Americans, including those on private wells, remain at risk of exposure.
Program Goals
The Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program provides states and local communities with funding to:
- Remove and replace leaky lead service lines
- Upgrade school and child care facility water systems
- Improve water treatment processes to eliminate lead contamination
The effort builds on a 2024 federal law requiring water utilities to replace all lead pipes within 10 years. Florida is believed to be the most impacted state, with over 1.1 million service lines contaminated by lead, followed by Illinois with just over 1 million.
What Ossoff Says
“Every Georgian deserves clean, healthy drinking water,” Ossoff said. “There’s no worse nightmare for any family than not having access to clean water. That’s why I brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass my amendment that will help communities in Georgia and across the nation remove dangerous lead pipes from homes, schools, and child care facilities.”
Next Steps
The funding proposal now heads to the full Senate and then the U.S. House of Representatives for approval. If passed, the increase would expand lead removal projects nationwide, targeting the most at-risk communities first.
Do you believe Congress should make lead pipe removal a national emergency priority? Share your thoughts in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
