Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support of the Tlaib/Kildee/Slotkin/Cicilline/Moore amendment to help remove dangerous lead pipes in our communities. Lead paint in housing and water infrastructure containing lead are the two primary, but not the sole, pathways for lead poisoning in our children. HUD estimates that over 22 million homes (34 percent of the homes built before 1978) have significant lead-based paint hazards. Nationwide, estimates are that there are as many as 10 million lead service lines. The pernicious impacts of lead poisoning are well known. These impacts are often lifelong and irreversible. Lead poisoning is a serious threat in the State of Wisconsin and particularly in the City of Milwaukee, which has the largest concentration of lead service lines in the state. And its not just my state. According to the Great Lakes Governor's and Premiers, the Great Lakes region contains the highest concentrations of lead service lines in the United States. The good news is that lead poisoning is preventable, not inevitable, if we act. It is critical that we start taking steps to boost assistance, especially to localities with extremely high numbers of households served by lead lateral lines, who are least able to pay for the replacement of those lines. That's what this amendment does.…”