MADISON – Wisconsin will be receiving $142 million from the federal government to combat water challenges across the state from the recently passed infrastructure plan. Announced last week, the money can go to projects that address the removal of lead pipes, harmful forever chemicals, and water challenges in underserved communities.
Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement regarding the federal funds:
“Having access to clean water is a right for all, not a privilege. No one should ever be without access to clean, drinkable, and usable water. I want to sincerely thank the Biden administration for prioritizing clean water, not only in Wisconsin, but across the country and to Senator Tammy Baldwin and Wisconsin’s Democratic Delegation for supporting this legislation. Nothing could be more important, or more long-term, than water issues.
“This is a prime example of the government doing what is best for those they serve. This money will help to remove lead pipes from areas across the state, address PFAS contamination, and help solve water issues in underserved areas. The most fundamental job of government is to protect its citizens from harm – and these funds from the Build Back Better legislation will do just that.
“While I welcome this funding and these future projects, there is still more we as a state can do. We must pass the CLEAR Act so that we have a long term solution to addressing PFAS contamination. We must prioritize state funding to address any other water crises that may arise. We cannot solely rely on federal funds to do these things – we also must do them ourselves. If we want Wisconsin to be a gold standard for water quality, there is so much more we need to be doing on a statewide level.”
