By Trish Svoboda

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that Kansas is set to receive $28.65 million from the bipartisan infrastructure law. This funding is aimed at identifying and replacing lead service lines to prevent lead exposure in drinking water. Rep. Sharice Davids was the sole member of Kansas’ congressional delegation who voted in favor of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has now allocated nearly $87 million for projects replacing lead pipes across Kansas.

Exposure to lead can lead to serious health issues, particularly in babies and young children. It is estimated that Kansas has around 160,000 lead water lines, ranking it third in the nation per capita. In 2021, The Natural Resources Defense Council reported that Kansas had the third-highest number of lead pipes per 100,000 residents in the nation. Davids maintains her efforts in ensuring Kansans have clean water.