New Yorkers To U.S. Rep. Lawler: Protect Families from Toxic Lead Pipes, Oppose Congressional Rollbacks
The demonstration showed significant grassroots support for lead pipe replacement efforts, which are under attack in Trump’s Washington.
Published Jan 29, 2025
The demonstration showed significant grassroots support for lead pipe replacement efforts, which are under attack in Trump’s Washington.
Mahopac, NY — A broad coalition of New Yorkers, including local elected officials and representatives from groups such as Food & Water Watch, United for Clean Energy, Grassroots Environmental Education and the Peekskill Area NAACP, rallied at Rep. Mike Lawler’s Mahopac office in support of a federal rule requiring the replacement of aging lead water pipes that continue to poison millions of Americans.
Lead is a known neurotoxin that can cause severe developmental disorders, damage to the nervous system and other health issues, particularly in children. Thanks to its aging infrastructure, New York communities are especially at risk — nearly half of the state’s schools continue to provide water with elevated lead levels.
In October 2024, the Biden administration finalized the long-overdue Lead Out of Water Rule, requiring water companies to identify and replace lead pipes within ten years and lowering the threshold for acceptable lead levels in water. Now, just days after taking office, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are already caving to aggressive industry lobbying and promising to revoke the rule. With a razor-thin House majority, Lawler’s vote could make or break these efforts.
“Lead exposure has harmed New Yorkers for decades, and every year we learn more about its long-term, irreversible effects on our health. But Congressional Republicans and their corporate backers continue to deny that this crisis even exists,” said Eric Weltman, Senior Organizer at Food & Water Watch. “This isn’t complicated — people deserve access to clean water that won’t damage their brains. By standing up for this rule, Rep. Lawler can show he cares about everyday New Yorkers more than the special interests that profit off our poisoning.”
“We have been working diligently to improve New York’s water quality, and any steps backward would endanger the public health of New Yorkers,” said New York State Senator Pete Harckham. “The federal Lead Out of Water Rule has been an important component of New York’s lead removal efforts and it is currently under threat in congress and we hope that Representative Mike Lawler stands with New Yorkers on this issue.”
“It is absurd that our federal leaders are even considering revoking a rule to help us replace aging lead pipes,” said New York State Assemblymember Dana Levenberg. “We really cannot be moving backward in the effort to remove a known neurotoxin from our water supply. Congressman Lawler needs to take the high road on this and do what he knows is right. It’s shocking to think he would do otherwise.”
“During Rockland County’s last reported round of lead testing, 60 children tested positive — and those are just the ones we know about,” said Beth Davidson, Rockland County Legislator and Environmental Committee Chair. “Like everyone else, I will be watching to see if Congressman Lawler stands up for our children or stays silent while the Trump administration undermines the work by New York State and Rockland County to mitigate this ongoing public health hazard.”
“As a county legislator, I am deeply aware of the challenges New Yorkers face with lead in their drinking water, and the last thing we need is delays in replacing lead pipes,” said Nancy Montgomery, Putnam County Legislator. “The Biden-Harris administration’s new regulations and funding present a critical opportunity to protect our communities, especially our children, from the harmful effects of lead exposure. There is no safe level of lead in drinking water, and we must act swiftly to remove it. I urge Congressman Lawler to support these efforts and work alongside us in ensuring clean, safe water for all.”
“The science is clear. There is no safe level of exposure to lead, a potent toxin that can cause cancer, reproductive and cardiovascular problems and neurological damage. Children, infants and fetuses are the most vulnerable to these health effects, especially to their developing brains and nervous systems,” said Ellen Weininger, Director of Educational Outreach at Grassroots Environmental Education.” New York communities are among the most heavily impacted nationwide. Any attempt to cripple this urgent federal rule is reckless, woefully short sighted and ignores the disastrous consequences to the health and safety of our communities across New York State and the U.S. It is imperative that Congressman Lawler make the replacement of lead water pipes his top priority to protect our water and our future.”
“We need Congressman Lawler to strengthen protections for our drinking water, not weaken them,” said Tina Volz-Bongar of United for Clean Energy. “We need these lead pipes replaced, as well as pipes with toxic ‘forever chemicals’. Rep. Lawler should put our children’s health and our families’ health first, and ask Congress to fund full replacement by taxing the wealthy and corporations fairly.”
“The NAACP legacy is built on our mission to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color. This includes the very basic right to safe and clean drinking water,” said Keiko Niccolini, Environmental Justice Chair of the Peekskill Area NAACP – Branch 2170. “As proud, strong members of the NAACP’s national network, the Peekskill Area Branch stands firm in our resolve to prioritize the health and safety of our Peekskill children and neighbors. We are committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that safe drinking water becomes a reality for all—including continuing to demand that our legislators ensure that the proposed updates to the LCRI are swiftly passed and implemented.”
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Press Contact: Seth Gladstone [email protected]
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