Ryan Announces Plan to Remove All Lead Pipes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, at a Transportation and Infrastructure hearing, Congressman Pat Ryan pushed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist the City of Poughkeepsie with replacing its lead pipes, securing a commitment from the EPA’s Office of Water to visit the city in the coming weeks to survey the extent of the city’s remaining lead pipes and aid city officials in applying for federal grants for replacing the pipes. The corrosion of aging and outdated lead water pipes can cause toxic lead to leach into the drinking water supply, which is linked to significant adverse health effects, including permanent neurological damage and impaired cognitive abilities, especially in children, as well as fertility and renal issues in adults.

“For far too long, families in Poughkeepsie have worried that when they turn on the faucet or when their child uses the water fountain at school, they would be ingesting poisonous lead. This is a crisis that cannot continue,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “We’re taking aggressive action, starting with getting EPA experts on the ground and working closely with city leaders to secure federal funding. I will not rest until every lead pipe is removed and every parent can rest assured that their kid is drinking clean water.”

“We appreciate Congressman Ryan stepping up to help the City of Poughkeepsie and so many others like us address this serious issue,” said City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Marc Nelson. “We know the costs of replacing lead pipes throughout our communities will put significant financial stress on municipalities, and federal and state relief is imperative to get the job done in an effective manner. The congressman’s efforts are a testament to the need for a sound partnership among various levels of government to work in harmony toward solutions on behalf of the citizens we serve. The city is committed to this work, and we are grateful for the congressman’s support.”

“Replacing lead-contaminated service lines is a priority for me, and I have been fighting in Albany to ensure that our residents have safe drinking water,” said Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson. “To that end, I reached out to Representative Ryan to see how the federal government could help, so I am pleased that Representative Ryan is inviting the EPA to assess the situation in the City of Poughkeepsie. I look forward to state and federal government working hand in hand to ensure that the City acts quickly to develop a comprehensive plan for full lead service line replacements in every part of the City.”

“I truly appreciate Congressman Pat Ryan’s efforts in assisting us with our lead service line replacement initiative and connecting us to the EPA’s resources and grant opportunities,” said City of Poughkeepsie 5th Ward Common Councilwoman Yvonne Flowers. “This opportunity can help accelerate the replacement of our lead service lines in Poughkeepsie and drastically reduce our children’s exposure to lead poisoning and other possible health risks.”

“The City of Poughkeepsie has one of the highest rates of childhood lead poisoning in NYS. No amount of lead exposure is safe, which is why we need to prioritize the replacement of all lead water pipes,” said City of Poughkeepsie 8th Ward Common Councilwoman Meghan Deichler. “I’m grateful for the partnership of Congressman Ryan in helping Poughkeepsie expedite the process of removing all lead water pipes.

There is no safe blood lead level for children. The corrosion of aging and outdated lead water pipes can cause toxic lead to leach into the drinking water supply, which is linked to significant adverse health effects including permanent neurological damage and impaired cognitive abilities, especially in children, as well as fertility and renal issues in adults.

The Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver $15 billion to replace harmful lead water pipes across the country. Congressman Ryan is working to deliver that funding for Hudson Valley families.

Rep. Ryan serves on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This action builds on his record of fighting for clean water legislation and initiatives, including:

* Halting Holtec’s plan to dump radioactive waste into the Hudson River
* Demanding G.E. conduct a complete clean up of its PCB toxic waste in the Hudson River
* Cosponsoring H. R. 1729 The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2023
* Cosponsoring H.R.1395 The Delaware River Basin Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2023
* Cosponsoring H. R. 1705 The A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice For All Act
* Cosponsoring H.R. 2982 To establish the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program, and for other purposes
* Serving on the Congressional PFAS Task Force
* Proposing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act requiring reporting on PFAS contamination on military bases
* Delivering a floor speech to condemn H.R. 1’s proposed provision to allow more PFAS and contaminants in water