CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN CONTINUES FIGHT TO REMOVE LEAD PIPES, BRINGS EPA TO POUGHKEEPSIE TO ADVOCATE FOR FEDERAL RESOURCES

Congressman Pat Ryan Continues Fight to Remove Lead Pipes, Brings EPA to Poughkeepsie to Advocate for Federal Resources 

By pushing the EPA to visit and see firsthand the scope of lead pipe crisis, Ryan puts Poughkeepsie in strong position to receive significant federal funding 

Ryan was joined by coalition of Poughkeepsie leadership, including, Mayor Nelson, Councilwoman Flowers, Councilmember Deichler, Senator Rolison, and Assemblyman Jacobson 

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY  –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leadership and representatives of the New York State Department of Health in the City of Poughkeepsie to ensure they saw firsthand the scope of the city’s lead pipe crisis and to push aggressively for maximum federal and state resources to fix the systemic lead pipe issues throughout the city and across the Hudson Valley. The historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $15 billion to replace harmful lead water pipes nationwide, and the next deadline to apply for this funding is August 25th. By compelling the EPA to visit and showing them the extent of the lead pipe crisis, Ryan has put Poughkeepsie in a strong position to receive the necessary federal resources. Ryan was joined by City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Marc Nelson, Councilwoman Yvonne Flowers, Councilmember Megan Deichler, State Senator Rob Rolison and Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson. 

“There is no safe or acceptable level of lead for our kids – I’m committed to urgently removing all lead pipes so that every parent can rest assured that their child is drinking clean water,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes unprecedented funds – $15 billion nationwide – to replace lead pipes, and I’m fighting aggressively to ensure those funds are directed here to Poughkeepsie and across the Hudson Valley. By pushing the EPA to visit and see the scope of the lead pipe crisis firsthand, Poughkeepsie is now in a strong position to receive significant federal resources.”

“The latest science is clear: there is no safe level of lead exposure. Reducing lead in drinking water is a top priority for EPA and the Biden-Harris Administration,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “That’s why the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with support from leaders in Congress like Representative Ryan, is critical to delivering on the promise of getting every lead pipe out of cities like Poughkeepsie.”

“This hasn’t happened before in my memory, and I think it should signal to all of us and to the broader community the importance we attach to this issue,” said City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Marc Nelson. “The meeting we had, facilitated by Congressman Ryan and his staff, that brought all of us here today was so uplifting because our partners at the Department of Health and EPA shared their excitement about this once-in-a-generation opportunity.” 

"Thanks to Congressman Pat Ryan for acting swiftly to address the lead-contaminated water lines in the City of Poughkeepsie,” said Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson. “Following up on our conversation, Rep. Ryan invited the EPA to visit and learn the scope of the problem. It is up to all of us to provide residents with safe drinking water. We cannot let another generation of children suffer from lead exposure."

“Looking forward to meeting with a representative from the Environmental Protection Agency and Congressman Ryan, along with my fellow Councilmembers and Mayor Nelson, to discuss funding opportunities that could help Poughkeepsie replace lead service lines at a more rapid rate,” said City of Poughkeepsie 5th Ward Common Councilwoman Yvonne Flowers. “This is the type of assistance Poughkeepsie needs to be successful with this public safety initiative.”

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. 

In addition to City of Poughkeepsie leadership, Ryan was also joined today by the EPA’s Supervisor for the Drinking Water and Municipal Infrastructure Branch, as well as the Director of the Bureau of Water Supply Protection and the Director of the Division of Environmental Health Protection from the New York Department of Health. 

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. Today’s 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

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