Bill Text: MI SCR0025 | 2015-2016 | 98th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation which ensures that citizens are promptly notified of potential lead in water contamination.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-24 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [SCR0025 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2015-SCR0025-Introduced.html
Senators Hertel, Bieda, Ananich and Young offered the following concurrent resolution:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 25.
A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation which ensures that citizens are promptly notified of potential lead in water contamination.
Whereas, Quality, safe drinking water is essential in our communities for public health and wellness. Nationally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with ensuring safe drinking water. Under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA has delegated primary enforcement responsibility in our state to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; and
Whereas, It is imperative that residents across the country and in our state be notified in a timely fashion about potential lead contamination in drinking water. Lead is a very dangerous contaminant to health, especially in young children. Citizens are better equipped to take steps to protect their health and safety when properly notified about lead in water issues; and
Whereas, Current lead in water notification requirements are inadequate. As the water crisis in Flint has illustrated, the system failed for thousands of residents. Prompt warning is necessary, and measures must be put in place to ensure that it happens; and
Whereas, H.R. 4470, the federal Safe Drinking Water Act Improved Compliance Awareness Act, would ensure that citizens are notified immediately and effectively in an instance of possible lead contamination. It would mandate that local water systems inform all customers when lead is detected at high levels in drinking water. Further, the act would require the EPA to communicate this notice when a lead contamination may present health effects, and the state or local water system have failed to notify customers within 24 hours. The act also contains a provision charging the EPA to ultimately make sure that customers are advised when high lead levels are detected in their household’s drinking water. Supported by every member of the Michigan congressional delegation, this bipartisan act has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 416-2; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation which ensures that citizens are promptly notified of potential lead in water contamination; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
