(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced Missouri will receive more than $147 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2022 to improve water infrastructure across the state. The funding will be provided through the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) State Revolving Fund (SRF) and will go toward removing lead pipes, upgrading aging drinking water and wastewater systems, and funding local water projects throughout Missouri.

"I'm ecstatic to announce this historic $147 million in funding to improve water infrastructure in the Fifth Congressional District and across the state of Missouri," said Congressman Cleaver. "Not only will this funding help to ensure our children, grandchildren, and communities as a whole have safe, clean drinking water, but it's going to create a lot of good-paying jobs while doing it. I'm proud to have helped provide this long overdue investment to remove lead pipes and modernize our state's drinking water systems, and as we begin to receive the funding, I look forward to working with the state to ensure the needs of the Fifth Congressional District are met"

According to the National Resources Defense Council, Missouri has the sixth-most lead service lines in the nation and the fourth-most lead service lines per 100,000 people. The $147,152,000 in funding is Missouri's first-year allocation of the EPA's five year investment of $44 billion in State SRF funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and will help to remove lead service lines from schools, households, and public buildings throughout the state.

In a letter from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan to state governors yesterday, the EPA encouraged states to maximize the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to address disproportionate environmental burdens in historically underserved communities across the country. The Biden administration encouraged states to use the funding with a focus on:

• Targeting resources to disadvantaged communities;
• Making rapid progress on lead-free water for all; and
• Tackling forever chemicals like perfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroalkyl, and other emerging contaminants.

"No child should be faced with brain damage due to lead contamination and no family should be worried about getting cancer from PFAS-contaminated water in the United States in 2021," said Congressman Cleaver. "Sadly, that is still a reality. This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide communities across the state of Missouri with the comfort of knowing they are drinking safe, clean, and uncontaminated water."

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.