Hickenlooper, Bennet, DeGette, Neguse Welcome Over $32 Million for Colorado Lead Pipe Replacement

Funding awarded from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Representatives Diana DeGette and Joe Neguse celebrated the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of $32.8 million to help Colorado identify and replace lead service lines to improve water quality for Coloradans.

This latest investment is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and made available through EPA's Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program and will help upgrade Colorado's aging water infrastructure.

"Every Coloradan deserves access to safe drinking water," said Hickenlooper. "These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments will help replace lead pipes and deliver cleaner water to communities across Colorado!"

"No parent in America should have to worry about the water their kids drink from the tap," said Bennet. "This investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is an important step forward to help communities across Colorado replace harmful lead pipes without placing additional financial burdens on homeowners and small businesses. Communities in every corner of the country should have access to clean drinking water."

"Neighborhoods throughout Denver have been impacted by lead pipes and unsafe drinking water," said DeGette. "I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to send funding to communities like those in Colorado's First District to replace lead pipes and improve the health of my constituents. Today's announcement is a victory for public health, and I am glad to have champions in the White House like President Biden and Vice President Harris who are fighting to support disadvantaged communities in Denver and across our country."

"This historic step marks the start of the end of toxic lead pipes that harm the health of our children and families," said Neguse. "I applaud the work and commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure Coloradans and the American people have access to safe, clean drinking water."

"EPA is dedicated to protecting the health of all Coloradans by ensuring the water flowing into their taps is safe and reliable," said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. "Everyone deserves clean drinking water, and this lead service line replacement funding underscores our commitment to making that happen, especially in disadvantaged communities."

Lead can cause serious health impacts, including irreversible harm to brain development in children. Many vulnerable communities facing water challenges have historically received insufficient federal water infrastructure funding. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests over $15 billion nationwide to correct this disparity and replace up to 1.7 million lead pipes nationwide, securing clean drinking water for countless families.

Hickenlooper was part of a bipartisan group of 22 senators who negotiated and wrote the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, the largest investment in EV infrastructure in American history.

More information about the programs available HERE and HERE.

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