I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6887 
To improve the removal of lead from drinking water in public housing. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 
Mr. KILDEE (for himself and Mr. FASO) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To improve the removal of lead from drinking water in 
public housing. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Get the Lead Out of 
Assisted Housing Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment. 
(3) LEAD SERVICE LINE.—The term ‘‘lead serv-
ice line’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
141.2 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, or 
any successor thereto. 
(4) PILOT
PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘pilot pro-
gram’’ means the program for providing grants es-
tablished under section 6(a). 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) lead is a dangerous neurotoxin that can per-
manently impact brain development, especially in 
young children; 
(2) the Centers for Disease Control, the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency, the American Associa-
tion of Pediatrics, and many other entities have de-
termined that there is no safe level of lead exposure; 
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(3) for vulnerable populations like young chil-
dren, pregnant mothers, and the elderly, exposure to 
lead can be life altering; 
(4) evidence is mounting that the lead in drink-
ing water problem in the United States is grossly 
underestimated and inadequately addressed; 
(5) according to the Environmental Protection 
Agency, lead service lines are the single largest 
source of lead in drinking water; and 
(6) partial lead service line replacement, where 
only a portion of a lead service line is replaced, can 
increase lead exposure. 
SEC. 4. UNIFORM PHYSICAL CONDITION STANDARDS. 
The Secretary, in consultation with the Adminis-
trator, shall amend the physical condition standards set 
forth in section 5.703 of title 24, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, to require that— 
(1) the entities responsible for maintaining 
housing inspect building systems to determine, using 
tests that incorporate the best available technology 
and science, if— 
(A) there are lead service lines; or 
(B) there is lead in the service line that 
connects the interior plumbing to the public 
water supply; and 
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(2) if a lead service line is found or lead is 
found in a service line that connects to the interior 
plumbing of the housing at the water meter, the en-
tity responsible for maintaining the housing shall— 
(A) not later than 1 day after the date on 
which the lead is found, notify each tenant of 
the housing that the lead was found and of 
safety precautions that should be taken; 
(B) disclose that information within 30 
days to any water utility entity relevant to the 
housing; 
(C) provide necessary interim measures to 
reduce exposure to the lead, such as water fil-
ters designed to remove lead and other innova-
tive technologies, based on guidance from the 
Administrator; and 
(D) prohibit the partial replacement of 
lead service lines. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO INSPECT ALL SOURCES OF LEAD. 
The Secretary may inspect all sources of lead con-
tamination in housing assisted by a program of the De-
partment and work in coordination with the Environ-
mental Protection Agency to mitigate sources of lead expo-
sure as a result of water from the public water supply 
and ambient air levels or industrial emissions. 
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SEC. 6. HEALTHY HOMES LEAD IN DRINKING WATER PILOT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall begin providing grants to State and local gov-
ernments responsible for developing consolidated 
plans under part 91 of title 24, Code of Federal 
Regulations. 
(2) PURPOSE.—The Secretary shall design the 
grants under the pilot program to— 
(A) identify lead service lines and other 
sources of lead in drinking water serving hous-
ing units and take steps to remediate those 
threats; and 
(B) optimize corrosion control treatment in 
public water systems serving housing units. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—A State or local government receiv-
ing a grant under the pilot program shall prioritize the 
following activities: 
(1) Creating an inventory of lead service lines, 
which shall— 
(A) be published on the website of the 
State or local government; and 
(B) involve— 
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(i) working with local water utilities 
that may have a similar inventory; 
(ii) inspecting for lead service lines at 
their entry point into a building using 
methods that do not disturb the pipe; 
(iii) conducting an inspection of visi-
ble pipes at all access points; and 
(iv) prioritizing buildings based on the 
age of the building, historical records, and 
the size of the service line. 
(2) Testing for lead in the drinking water at 
child care facilities and schools and providing reme-
diation, as appropriate. 
(3) Testing for lead in the drinking water at 
water fountains in public facilities and providing re-
mediation, as appropriate. 
SEC. 7. HEALTHY HOMES AND LEAD HAZARD CONTROL OF-
FICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Office of Lead Hazard Con-
trol and Healthy Homes of the Department shall, when 
providing grants for lead-based paint hazard reduction in 
target housing under section 1011 of the Residential 
Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (42 
U.S.C. 4852)— 
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(1) ensure that testing for lead in drinking 
water is conducted; 
(2) require notification of tenants of the level of 
lead in drinking water found; and 
(3) offer interim controls, such as the installa-
tion of water filters known to remove lead. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS FOR REPLACEMENT.—The Sec-
retary shall allow recipients of assistance from the Office 
of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes of the De-
partment or another program of the Department to use 
the funds to replace leaded water fixtures and lead service 
lines. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
Act. 
Æ 
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