Brown, Rep. Ryan, Mayor Brown, EPA Administrator Tour the neighborhood that will receive lead pipe replacements

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined U.S. Representative Tim Ryan, Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown and EPA Administrator Michael Regan for a tour of a West Youngstown neighborhood that is expected to receive $1.6 million in federal funds to replace lead pipes this summer.

“Thanks to the work we have done as part of the American rescue plan, the inhabitants of this neighborhood will finally have new safe driving. Families will have peace of mind that the water coming out of the tap is safe for their children to drink, and more workers will have jobs to do the installation work,” Brown said.“And more projects like this are underway thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure plan, all done by American workers using American-made materials.”

Senator Brown, Administrator Regan, Representative Ryan and Mayor Brown met with residents during their tour of the community.

“There are over 600,000 lead service lines in Ohio today, and between 6 and 10 million nationwide,”
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Administrator Regan. “Thanks to the leadership of Senator Brown, Congressman Ryan and President Biden, Ohio will see more than $71 million to address lead pipe pollution under the bipartisan Infrastructure Act in 2022 alone. I look forward to working with Ohio leaders to ensure these dollars reach the communities that need them most quickly, efficiently and fairly.

“We cannot expect to compete with the rest of the world when our children are poisoned by the water they drink at home and in their schools,” said Congressman Tim Ryan. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, we are eliminating lead from our pipes and ensuring that every Ohioian has clean water and the opportunity to thrive in their community, regardless of their ZIP code. We must continue our work to ensure that every person in the Mahoning Valley, Ohio, and across this country can achieve the American Dream.

“Today’s investment in leadline replacement is badly needed to ensure our future generation is healthy and strong,” said Mayor Brown. “This impact will affect families who may have underlying health conditions. We must continue to thrive, not survive, as we emerge from a global pandemic.

This project will be funded by US federal bailout money and is expected to benefit more than 90 homes on the city’s west side. The bipartisan Infrastructure Act will also provide additional funding to strengthen drinking water infrastructure and replace lead pipes in Ohio and across the country.

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