Federal grants to replace lead pipes in vulnerable communities
H.R. 6060 — SAFE Taps Act · Filed by Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) · Introduced Nov 17, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill directs the EPA to establish a federal grant program (not loans) to help local governments, public water systems, and Native American tribes replace lead service lines, galvanized steel/iron service lines, and lead drinking water mains. The bill funds infrastructure replacement to comply with EPA regulations requiring lead service line removal within 10 years, prioritizing communities that lack the financial capacity to take on debt, and requires contractors to pay prevailing wages on funded projects.
Why we flagged it
The bill establishes a direct federal grant mechanism to fund lead service line and drinking water main replacement in underserved communities, framed explicitly as a public health and environmental justice measure to comply with existing EPA regulations.
What the text implies
- Grant structure may create administrative burden on small/rural water systems lacking grant-writing capacity; success depends on EPA implementation and appropriations levels.
- Prevailing wage requirement increases project costs; may reduce total miles of pipe replaced per dollar appropriated, creating a trade-off between wage protection and coverage.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
water infrastructure contractors; engineering and design firms; construction labor (prevailing wage beneficiaries)