Vice President Kamala Harris today met with community members and workers in Milwaukee to learn more about the impact of lead service lines on the city. There are currently 70,000 lead service lines in Milwaukee that need to be replaced and the city will receive funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to advance that effort.

In response to the vice president’s visit, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Midwest Regional Field Organizer Richard Diaz:

“Milwaukee has been fighting to be lead-free for years, but without the resources we need, it’s been an uphill battle. The funding included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help us meet the goal of removing all the lead pipes in our city’s water infrastructure. But more is still needed. That’s why it is so important that Congress pass the Build Back Better Act quickly with additional funding to replace lead service lines. 

“We thank Vice President Harris for coming to Milwaukee to learn more about the impacts of lead on our communities, for her work to get the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law over the finish line, and for her continued work to advance the Build Back Better Act.”