Congresswoman Claudia Tenney has reintroduced legislation aimed at making it easier for municipalities to fund projects that replace hazardous lead service lines.
Tenney, who represents New York’s 24th District, announced the bipartisan Financing Lead Out of Water (FLOW) Act on June 10 alongside cosponsors including Congresswomen Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, Haley Stevens of Michigan, and Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania.
“Replacing hazardous lead pipes in our communities is a costly, time-consuming process burdened by unnecessary federal hurdles,” said Tenney. “The FLOW Act cuts red tape and eliminates excessive documentation requirements, making it easier for communities to access affordable financing for critical water infrastructure projects.”
Under current law, water utilities must prove that tax-exempt bonds used for projects on private property do not primarily benefit private entities—a requirement Tenney and supporters say adds costly delays. The FLOW Act would remove this restriction, allowing public water systems to use tax-exempt bonds for replacing lead service lines regardless of ownership.
Supporters say the legislation will particularly benefit areas with aging infrastructure, such as Upstate New York, by accelerating access to clean, safe drinking water.
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