Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 24, 2023 02:05 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative G. Roni Green |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Lead Contamination in Drinking Water in School Buildings |
| In 2014, Flint, Michigan faced a public health emergency when drinking water with lead contamination caused residents to have hair loss and skin rashes. Later studies would reveal that the contaminated water was also contributing to a doubling—and in some cases, tripling—of the incidence of elevated blood lead levels in the city’s children, imperiling the health of its youngest generation. Lead in drinking water is a national issue, even in our own state. Pennsylvania has a history of lead contamination in drinking water. In recent years, the Penn Environment Research & Policy Center released a report that gave our Commonwealth a grade of F, pertaining to the amount of lead in school drinking water. In early 2022, a report found lead contamination in 61% of drinking water outlets in 65 schools tested in Philadelphia. We need to do better with lead testing in our schools. My legislation would require all public and nonpublic schools to test drinking water and collaborate with the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Education on a remediation plan if lead is found. Article 27 of the Pennsylvania constitution states, "The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment." This is our public responsibility. Please join me in protecting our children so they can receive quality education in a safe learning environment. |