What: A briefing to Congress entitled “The Lead Crisis and Safe Drinking Water: Lessons from Flint and Other Drinking Water Emergencies”
When: Wednesday, May 3, 2017 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Where: 421 Cannon House Office Building
With the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan and other lead emergencies throughout the country, the importance of revisiting and strengthening the Lead and Copper Rule has been amplified. Please join the Northeast-Midwest Institute’s Safe Drinking Water Research and Policy Program and its distinguished guests for a briefing about weaknesses in our drinking water regulations and strategies for improving the protection provided by our drinking water regulations. Topics that will be covered include:
- The weaknesses that have been exposed in the Lead and Copper Rule through these lead in water crises;
- The relationship between water quality and the 2014-2015 Legionnaire’s disease outbreak in Flint, MI;
- Key legislative proposals such as H.R. 1974, the “No Lead Act” and H.R. 2094, the “Lead Free Schools Act;” and
- The issues public water systems face as they take their own initiative to improve water quality and plan for new requirements.
Opening remarks will be given by the The Honorable Dan Kildee (MI-5), and speakers include:
- Elin Betanzo, PE, Director, Safe Drinking Water Research and Policy Program, Northeast-Midwest Institute
- William Rhoads, PhD, Virginia Tech
- Erik D. Olson, Director, Health Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Gary A. Brown, Director, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
To RSVP to the briefing or if you have any questions, please contact Matthew McKenna at mmckenna@nemw.org.