Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, representing New York’s 24th district, has reintroduced the Financing Lead Out of Water (FLOW) Act alongside Congresswoman Gwen Moore from Wisconsin’s 4th district. The legislation aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and enable municipalities to finance water projects focused on replacing lead service lines.
The bill also garners support from Representatives Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania’s 3rd district and Haley Stevens of Michigan’s 11th district. These representatives join efforts to address the issue of aging water infrastructure and ensure safe drinking water for communities.
Lead service lines, often jointly owned by local governments and private homeowners, present a significant financial challenge due to their replacement costs. Current regulations require proof that tax-exempt bonds used for these replacements do not primarily benefit private entities when applied on private property—a process considered burdensome and costly.
The FLOW Act proposes removing this barrier by allowing public water utilities to use tax-exempt bonds without triggering IRS restrictions related to “private business use.”
“Replacing hazardous lead pipes in our communities is a costly, time-consuming process burdened by unnecessary federal hurdles,” stated Congresswoman Tenney. She emphasized that the FLOW Act would streamline documentation requirements, facilitating easier access to affordable financing for critical water infrastructure projects.
Congresswoman Moore expressed her commitment as a parent and grandparent to ending the lead epidemic: “In Congress, I am working to advance proposals that can help our communities remove this toxin.” She supports the FLOW Act for its potential to leverage municipal bonds effectively for funding replacement projects.
Congresswoman Stevens highlighted Michigan’s experience with lead-contaminated water issues: “The FLOW Act will cut unnecessary barriers and unlock affordable financing tools,” enabling faster removal of dangerous pipes. She expressed pride in co-sponsoring this bipartisan effort aimed at providing clean drinking water nationwide.
