April 30, 2026
Mr. James introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act with respect to lead contamination in school drinking water, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Safe Water in Schools Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Lead contamination in school drinking water
(a) Point-of-use filtration systems
Section 1464(d)(2) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–24(d)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(D) Point-of-use filtration systems
In carrying out the grant program under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall make grants to local educational agencies to provide certified point-of-use filtration systems described in section 1459A(b)(2)(D) at schools and child care programs under the jurisdiction of those local educational agencies—
(i)
as a preventative measure to reduce potential exposure to lead contamination in drinking water prior to testing for such contamination, as determined appropriate by the Administrator; and
(ii)
for purposes of remediation of lead contamination in drinking water under this paragraph.
(b) Authorization of appropriations
Section 1464(d)(8) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–24(d)(8)) is amended by striking subparagraphs (A) through (E) and inserting the following:
(A)
$60,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(B)
$63,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
(C)
$66,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
(D)
$69,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
(E)
$72,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.