President Joe Biden announced Thursday $3 billion toward identifying and replacing the nation’s unsafe lead pipes, a long-sought move to improve public health and clean drinking water that will be paid for by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Biden unveiled the new funding in North Carolina, a battleground state Democrats have lost to Donald Trump in the past two presidential elections but are feeling more bullish toward due to an abortion measure on the state’s ballot this November.

The Environmental Protection Agency will invest $3 billion in the lead pipe effort annually through 2026, Administrator Michael Regan told reporters. He said that nearly 50% of the funding will go to disadvantaged communities – and a fact sheet from the Biden administration noted that “lead exposure disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income families.”

    • KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      7 months ago

      I’m confused, are you saying we shouldnt be removing lead pipes which have been in use for nearly 40 years minimum?

      They are only still in use because “they are so covered in minerals it’s probably fine” ignoring the fact that even a minuscule amount of lead leads to problems in both children and adults.

      Could they focus on other things? Sure. But there’s always going to be “something more important than this” so it’s either pick something, or do nothing. Which option would you like?

      • Bosht@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        No I’m saying our politicians suck so much ass that they’re literally 50+ years behind the curve. How the fuck are lead pipes still a thing at all??? Shit should have been done decades ago.