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Dear Legislator:
Minnesota needs to act to get the lead out of our water and environment. Lead is a highly poisonous metal and can affect almost every organ in the body and the nervous system. Some of the health impacts include attention difficulties, behavior changes, lowered IQ, and overall slowed development which can lead to lifelong inequities.
I am writing today to urge you to please support the following policies that are being debated at the Capitol now:
• Support and pass HF4115/SF4121 to fund the removal of ALL lead service lines in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Health estimates there are at least 100,000 lead service lines in Minnesota. When present, they are the largest source of lead in a home. Unlike many other drinking water contaminants, lead is usually not present in the drinking water source itself but enters from the distribution system or plumbing in our homes, schools, and businesses. When old lead pipes age, lead particles break off the inside of the pipes, fixtures, and solder, lead will travel with the water, out of the tap, and into our bodies. None of our neighbors should be subjected to lead poisoning from their tap water.
• Support funding in Governor Walz’s supplemental budget to clean up lead in schools and give cities funding to identify and inventory where all lead service lines are located so they can be dug up and removed.
• Support and pass the Swan Protection Act in the House Omnibus Environment bill and HF 2556, which would require nontoxic tackle and ammunition. Lead in fishing tackle and ammunition can contaminate our water and wildlife. When people eat fish and game, this source of lead can cause human health problems as well.
• Finally, please support and pass HF3265/SF3956. We need to make sure Minnesota schools are a safe and healthy place for kids to learn. This important bill will strengthen standards to reduce lead exposure, increase testing to prevent lead exposure, and provide funding to schools to get the lead out of the water.
We need you to act now to protect our water, environment, and health for all Minnesotans.
Thank you,