II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4047 

To improve the removal of lead from drinking water in public housing. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 7, 2022 

Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself and Mr. YOUNG) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 

A BILL 

To improve the removal of lead from drinking water in 

public housing. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Get the Lead Out of 

5 Assisted Housing Act of 2022’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis9 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ10 mental Protection Agency. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 4047 IS

1 (2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 

2 means the Department of Housing and Urban De3 velopment. 

4 (3) LEAD SERVICE LINE.—The term ‘‘lead serv5 ice line’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

6 1459B(a) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 

7 U.S.C. 300j–19b(a)). 

8 (4) PILOT PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘pilot pro9 gram’’ means the program for providing grants es10 tablished under section 6(a). 

11 (5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

12 the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. 

13 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

14 It is the sense of Congress that— 

15 (1) lead is a dangerous neurotoxin that can per16 manently impact brain development, especially in 

17 young children; 

18 (2) the Centers for Disease Control and Preven19 tion, the Environmental Protection Agency, the 

20 American Association of Pediatrics, and many other 

21 entities have determined that there is no safe level 

22 of lead exposure; 

23 (3) for vulnerable populations like young chil24 dren, pregnant mothers, and the elderly, exposure to 

25 lead can be life altering; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 4047 IS

1 (4) evidence is mounting that the lead in drink2 ing water problem in the United States is grossly 

3 underestimated and inadequately addressed; 

4 (5) according to the Environmental Protection 

5 Agency, lead service lines are the single largest 

6 source of lead in drinking water; and 

7 (6) partial lead service line replacement, where 

8 only a portion of a lead service line is replaced, can 

9 increase lead exposure. 

10 SEC. 4. UNIFORM PHYSICAL CONDITION STANDARDS. 

11 The Secretary, in consultation with the Adminis12 trator, shall amend the physical condition standards set 

13 forth in section 5.703 of title 24, Code of Federal Regula14 tions, to require that— 

15 (1) the entities responsible for maintaining 

16 housing inspect building systems to determine, using 

17 tests that incorporate the best available technology 

18 and science, if— 

19 (A) there are lead service lines; or 

20 (B) there is lead in the interior plumbing; 

21 and 

22 (2) if a lead service line is found or lead is 

23 found in a service line that connects to the interior 

24 plumbing of the housing at the water meter, the en25 tity responsible for maintaining the housing shall— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 4047 IS

1 (A) not later than 1 day after the date on 

2 which the lead is found, notify each tenant of 

3 the housing that the lead was found and of pre4 cautions that should be taken to reduce expo5 sure; 

6 (B) disclose that information within 30 

7 days to any drinking water provider relevant to 

8 the housing; 

9 (C) provide necessary interim measures to 

10 reduce exposure to the lead, such as water fil11 ters designed to remove lead and other innova12 tive technologies, based on guidance from the 

13 Administrator; and 

14 (D) prohibit the partial replacement of 

15 lead service lines. 

16 SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO INSPECT ALL SOURCES OF LEAD. 

17 The Secretary may inspect all sources of lead con18 tamination in housing assisted by a program of the De19 partment and work in coordination with the Environ20 mental Protection Agency to mitigate sources of lead expo21 sure, including as a result of water from the public water 

22 supply, and ambient air levels, or industrial emissions. 

23 SEC. 6. HEALTHY HOMES LEAD IN DRINKING WATER PILOT 

24 PROGRAM. 

25 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 4047 IS

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 

2 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

3 shall begin providing grants to State and local gov4 ernments responsible for developing consolidated 

5 plans under part 91 of title 24, Code of Federal 

6 Regulations. 

7 (2) PURPOSE.—The Secretary shall design the 

8 grants under the pilot program to— 

9 (A) identify lead service lines and other 

10 sources of lead in drinking water serving hous11 ing units and take steps to remediate those 

12 threats; and 

13 (B) optimize corrosion control treatment in 

14 public water systems serving housing units. 

15 (b) ACTIVITIES.—A State or local government receiv16 ing a grant under the pilot program shall prioritize the 

17 following activities: 

18 (1) Creating an inventory of lead service lines, 

19 which shall— 

20 (A) be published on the website of the 

21 State or local government; and 

22 (B) involve— 

23 (i) working with public water systems 

24 (as defined in section 1401 of the Safe 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
6 

•S 4047 IS

1 Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f)) 

2 that may have a similar inventory; 

3 (ii) inspecting for lead service lines at 

4 their entry point into a building using 

5 methods that do not disturb the pipe; 

6 (iii) conducting an inspection of visi7 ble pipes at all access points; and 

8 (iv) prioritizing buildings based on the 

9 age of the building, historical records, and 

10 the size of the service line. 

11 (2) Testing for lead in the drinking water at 

12 child care facilities and schools, providing interim 

13 measures to reduce exposure to the lead, and pro14 viding remediation, when appropriate. 

15 (3) Testing for lead in the drinking water at 

16 water fountains in public facilities, providing interim 

17 measures to reduce exposure to the lead, and pro18 viding remediation, when appropriate. 

19 SEC. 7. HEALTHY HOMES AND LEAD HAZARD CONTROL OF20 FICE. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Office of Lead Hazard Con22 trol and Healthy Homes of the Department shall, when 

23 providing grants for lead-based paint hazard reduction in 

24 target housing under section 1011 of the Residential 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
7 

•S 4047 IS

1 Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (42 

2 U.S.C. 4852)— 

3 (1) ensure that testing for lead in drinking 

4 water is conducted; 

5 (2) require notification of tenants of the level of 

6 lead in drinking water found; and 

7 (3) offer interim controls, such as the installa8 tion of water filters known to remove lead. 

9 (b) USE OF FUNDS FOR REPLACEMENT.—The Sec10 retary shall allow recipients of assistance from the Office 

11 of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes of the De12 partment or another program of the Department to use 

13 the funds to replace leaded water fixtures and lead service 

14 lines. 

15 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

16 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec17 retary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 

18 Act. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS