Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I shall consume. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to manage consideration of S. 3874, the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act. This is the Senate companion to Ms. Eshoo's bill, the Get the Lead Out Act. This bill will update the national lead content standard to nearly eradicate lead in faucets and fixtures which currently contribute up to 20 percent of human lead exposure, according to the EPA. In a 21st century America, we have a responsibility to do more to protect our children and families against the lead exposure acquired through plumbing systems. The Safe Drinking Water Act, which determines the national lead content standards, currently allows up to 8 percent lead content for faucets and other plumbing fixtures and limits the amount of lead that can leach from plumbing into drinking water. But health studies have concluded that much smaller amounts of lead exposure can have serious impacts on children and adults, including kidney disease, reduced IQ, hypertension, hearing loss, and brain damage. States have recognized this threat, and in 2006, California enacted the toughest lead content standard for drinking water faucets, fittings, and plumbing systems anywhere in the world. Since then, Vermont and Maryland have also adopted identical laws, and the District of Columbia and Virginia are considering similar legislation.…”