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Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives in late January would require EPA to set a national primary drinking water regulation for lead in the drinking water of schools while directing local water systems to conduct sampling for lead in the water of schools identified by EPA.

Sponsored by Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), the Get the Lead Out of Schools Act (H.R. 852) would, according to a statement from her office, address the fact that “currently no federal law requir[es] the testing of drinking water in schools.” Under the measure, EPA would be required to establish a lead action level for school drinking water that is not more than the action level in place for lead in the water of residential homes. Each public water system serving a school that “the Administrator determines to have a risk of lead in the drinking water at a level that meets or exceeds the lead action level” would have to conduct sampling of that school’s water, and notify the school, the municipality, and the state within 24 hours of receiving sampling results that indicate the presence of lead above the action level.

The bill would also establish a new grant program with funding to support lead testing and remediation in schools, but the program would only be available to schools and state agencies responsible for administering statewide lead testing programs. So while the bill would require public water systems to conduct lead screening in certain schools, these water systems would not be eligible to receive grant funding to offset the cost of this testing.

Through late February, H.R. 852 had attracted more than 50 cosponsors in the House – all Democrats – but Energy and Commerce Committee leaders had not given any indication of whether they plan to take up the bill.

In 2016 Congress created a new grant program to help local schools and child care centers voluntarily test their water for lead, and the program was expanded in legislation enacted last year. Lawmakers delivered an initial $20 million for the voluntary program in EPA’s FY18 appropriations bill, and this month followed up with another $25 million for FY19.