Trump and GOP-Led Congress Attempting to Undo Lead Pipe Protections

Congressional Republicans, along with the Trump administration, are trying to repeal Biden-era rules that require all lead pipes in the United States to be replaced, while lowering the lead limit in drinking water.

Repeal of the revised public health standard has been a top priority of Republicans in Congress, according to a press release from Food & Water Watch.

A joint resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this month that would repeal Biden’s water safety rule, which requires all lead water pipes to be replaced in most communities throughout the U.S. within a decade.

“Given all we know about the grave health impacts associated with lead exposure, especially for children, it’s truly unconscionable that Republicans would seek to revoke the common-sense actions taken by the Biden administration to finally tackle the pervasive threat of lead in water throughout the country,” said Mary Grant, Food & Water Watch water program director, in the press release. “Anyone who votes to repeal these critical lead contamination rules will have that vote hanging over them for years to come.”

Grand Old (Lead) Poisoning

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— Food & Water Watch (@foodandwater.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) not only require the replacement of lead pipes, but stricter testing of drinking water, as well as a lower threshold for communities to be able to take action against being exposed to lead through their water — 10 parts per billion instead of 15.

Republicans are attempting to do away with the LCRI with the Congressional Review Act (CRA) — a tool that can be used by Congress to overturn some federal agency actions.

The CRA gives incoming administrations and Congress 60 legislative days in order to review last-minute rules implemented by the previous administration. Republicans have already introduced resolutions for each of the rules — the first step in the CRA repeal process, reported The Guardian.

The corporate water industry has brought a lawsuit against the LCRI, but New York is leading a number of states that are advancing a petition in defense of the rules.

If Republicans successfully repeal the LCRI, tens of millions of U.S. residents would continue to be exposed to lead-contaminated drinking water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that the neurotoxin can cause developmental disorders in children, lower their IQ scores and damage their blood cells and nervous systems. Lead has also been found to increase blood pressure in adults.

One million children were tested in the U.S. in 2021, with half of them showing detectable lead levels in their blood. Exposure to lead is more likely for children of color and poorer children, reinforcing historical inequities.

Erik Olson, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Action Fund’s senior adviser, said the Trump administration is “saying let them drink lead,” The Guardian reported.

“It’s a bad look to support lead poisoning children,” Olson added. “Not the best foot forward for the new Congress.”

The primary source of lead contamination of drinking water is lead service lines, Food & Water Watch said. It has been estimated by the EPA that nine million homes still receive their drinking water through these hazardous pipes.

There are no safe lead levels in drinking water.

The LCRI replaced an earlier rule issued by the first Trump administration slowing the pace of replacing lead service lines.

Environmentalists have expressed alarm about Republican efforts to repeal the LCRI, as it would effectively stop the government from requiring the replacement of lead lines or lowering lead limits in the future.

Repealing the LCRI is filibuster-proof, reported The Guardian.

An NRDC survey found that  90 percent of people polled approved of lead replacement rules. Lead pipes are an issue across the country, including in Republican districts and states.

“I would hope even some red states want lead out of their drinking water but who knows?” said Betsy Southerland, a former water office manager with the EPA, as The Guardian reported.

Sutherland called the Republican attempt to undo the LCRI and permanently stop the country from ever requiring the replacement of lead pipes “mind-boggling.”

Congress could vote on whether to repeal the historic Lead Out of Water Rule – which would protect communities and children from toxic lead water pipes – in the next few weeks! Stand up for safe and clean water by taking action here: fwwat.ch/3WwMrv5

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— Food & Water Watch (@foodandwater.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM