Making our Drinking Water Safe for our Communities July 24, 2021Dear friends,Too many of our communities have felt the devastation and lasting harms caused by contaminated drinking water. We know all too well the lifelong damage that exposure to lead and other contaminants can cause to a developing brain. We pay a deep and permanent price every single time we fail to protect ourselves and each other from this kind of contamination. I am reminded of the families in Hoosick Falls whose American dream became a nightmare with the industrial release of dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS into their water systems—pollution that was ongoing but went undetected for decades, causing severe health effects including cancer, thyroid problems, birth defects, immune system disruptions, and premature death.Sadly, many people—in some cases whole communities–all across the country are suffering these grave consequences of toxic exposure from polluted water. Yet, despite knowing the costs and very real dangers posed by these ‘forever chemicals,’ and despite strong legislation passing in the House in previous Congressional terms, the Senate and our federal agencies have been slow to act. On Thursday—the same day a $65 million settlement was reached in the case against the companies responsible for polluting Hoosick Falls, my colleagues and I came together in the House in strong bipartisan fashion to advance legislation that holds polluters accountable, cleans up PFAS toxins from our environments and pushes them back out of our homes and our lives.I’ve long championed solutions that would raise the bar on PFAS protections for all Americans to safeguard our communities. I was proud to lead amendment debate on the House floor this week for our PFAS Action Act ahead of a strongly bipartisan vote to pass it as standalone legislation.Among its many powerful provisions, this bill would:Stem the flow of PFAS contaminants into the environment by requiring cleanup of sites polluted with PFOA and PFOS, setting air emission limits and prohibiting unsafe incineration of PFAS;Identify health risks by requiring comprehensive health testing for all PFAS, reporting of PFAS releases, and monitoring for PFAS in drinking water;Inform communities of PFAS risks by requiring the EPA Administrator to develop a risk-communication strategy; Limit human exposure to PFAS by requiring a drinking water standard for PFAS that protects public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations like pregnant women, infants, and children, and holding polluters accountable; andProvide grants to impacted water systems and guidance for first responders to limit exposures.For as strong as our comprehensive PFAS legislation is, passing this one bill to address this one contaminant is not enough. Congress must take bold, immediate action to ensure every American can turn on their tap and get safe, clean water.I have been pushing to get funding through Congress to remove every one of the estimated 10 million lead service lines currently being used in drinking water systems all across the country. Many of those lead lines are in schools and child care centers, with a study by the U.S. General Accounting Office showing that more than one-third of school districts that tested for it found lead in their drinking water. One in three. To this end, I’ve been rallying my colleagues in Congress to make sure that any infrastructure package that gets moved through Congress will make this cost-effective investment to replace every lead line in America. Earlier this week, I led a letter to Speaker Pelosi urging her to make sure full funding is included to remove every lead contaminated line once and for all from our schools, childcare centers, homes and businesses. Congress has kicked this can down the road for too long. All Americans should be able to have the confidence and peace of mind that comes with knowing the water they and their loved ones are drinking is clean and safe. Let’s get it done. As always, thank you for reading.Your friend, DID YOU KNOW?Throughout this pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations on any and all COVID-19 related topics. With that in mind here is some information that may be of interest to you:The expanded and improved Child Tax Credit is providing millions of families the means to tackle financial challenges cause by the COVID-19 pandemic HOWEVER, with this vital benefit, you must also be on the lookout for scammers and hackers trying to mislead you. Scammers will often contact families, offering them to sign them up for the tax credit and leave threatening messages over the phone or email. Remember: The IRS will NOT ask about personal or financial information, or contact you via email, text, or social mediaThe IRS will NOT leave you threatening messages or emails or ask for payment via gift card or cryptocurrencyThe IRS will use your past year’s tax return information to sign you up for the Child Tax Credit, and you will not need to contact them.For more information about potential scams click HERE and learn more about the advance child tax credit at IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021.