Lead in Drinking Water Disaster Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2674
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2016-03-14
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Department of Homeland Security

Disaster relief and insurance

Environmental health

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Water quality

Water use and supply
Latest action: action_date: 2016-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1464-1465)

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-03-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Lead in Drinking Water Disaster Act of 2016</strong></p> <p>This bill authorizes the President, upon request of a governor of a state, to declare a major disaster relating to lead contamination of drinking water from a public water system. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must promulgate regulations to carry out such authority within 60 days of this Act's enactment.</p> <p>In the case of such a declared major disaster, the federal coordinating officer appointed under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act shall ensure that the coordination of administration of relief required under such Act includes coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, and any other relevant agency.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2674 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 14, 2016 Mrs. Boxer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To authorize the President to provide major disaster assistance for lead contamination of drinking water from public water systems.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Lead in Drinking Water Disaster Act of 2016 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following— (1) According to the American Water Works Association, approximately 6,100,000 homes are served by lead service lines. (2) According to the most recent Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment, $384,000,000,000 is needed for drinking water infrastructure by 2030. (3) According to the Centers for Disease Control— (A) there is no safe level of lead in children; (B) children tend to show signs of severe lead toxicity at lower levels than adults; (C) lead can damage a developing baby’s nervous system and even low-level lead exposures in developing babies have been found to affect behavior and intelligence; (D) lead exposure can cause miscarriage, stillbirths, and infertility (in both men and women); and (E) people with prolonged exposure to lead may also be at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and reduced fertility. (4) In Flint, Michigan, homes were found to have lead levels as high as 4,000 parts per billion, nearly 267 times the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level for lead in drinking water of 15 parts per billion. (5) Numerous cities around the United States, including Sebring, Ohio, Durham, North Carolina, Greenville, North Carolina, and Jackson, Mississippi, have experienced elevated levels of lead in drinking water. 3. Authority to use disaster relief funds (a) In general Notwithstanding the definition of major disaster under section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5122 ), the President may, upon request of a Governor of a State, declare a major disaster relating to lead contamination of drinking water from a public water system (as defined in section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f )) . (b) Regulations Notwithstanding subchapter II of title 5, United States Code, and not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall promulgate regulations to carry out the authority described in subsection (a). (c) Coordination In the case of a major disaster declared under subsection (a), the Federal coordinating officer appointed under section 302 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5143 ) shall ensure that the coordination of administration of relief required under such section 302(b) includes, at a minimum, coordination with— (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (2) the Army Corps of Engineers; (3) the Environmental Protection Agency; and (4) any other relevant agency.