AUSTIN — The White House announced today that Texas will receive $221 million this year to remove lead service lines as part of a new plan to prevent the lead contamination of drinking water (and reduce other exposures to lead). The Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan features unprecedented federal funding and new requirements on elementary schools and daycares to test for lead in drinking water. Voluntary testing has previously found lead in the drinking water of 71% of Texas schools which tested. Environment Texas and TexPIRG urged the state of Texas to accept the funds (this week Gov. Abbott urged state agencies to reject funds in certain conditions) and urged schools and daycares to act expeditiously to protect kids from lead in drinking water.
