Donald Payne Jr : Rep. Payne, Jr. Statement on NJ Assembly Passage of Lead Bill

Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10)released the following statement on New Jersey Assembly passage of A3539, a bill requiring schools to test and remediate lead in drinking water:

'I applaud and congratulate the Assembly for passing this critical bill. Lead in drinking water is never acceptable, especially when it involves children, who are most susceptible to the dangers of lead poisoning. This legislation will help keep our children safe, and I urge the Senate Education Committee to pass it. I will continue to work at the federal level to ensure that schools test for lead in drinking water.'

Congressman Payne, Jr. has been a leading advocate for lead testing in schools. In March 2016, he introduced the TEST for Lead Act, which updates the Safe Drinking Water Act to require states that receive certain federal funds to assist public and charter schools in establishing programs to test for lead in drinking water and to disclose the results if elevated lead levels are found.