Latta drinking water bill out of committee

U.S. House of Representatives information

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee today passed H.R. 212, the Drinking Water Protection Act, sponsored by U.S. Representative Bob Latta (R-Ohio). The legislation now awaits a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Today, the Energy and Commerce Committee took an important step to protecting our public health and safety by advancing the Drinking Water Protection Act,” said Latta on Thursday. “My legislation takes the thoughtful, robust approach needed to adequately assess and manage the risks of algal toxins in our drinking water, and I thank the Committee for its support. I look forward to working with my Congressional colleagues and leadership to ensure this legislation is taken up for a vote on the House floor in a timely manner.”

Latta introduced the Drinking Water Protection Act to help protect drinking water from harmful cyanotoxins, which caused a water emergency in northwest Ohio last August. The bipartisan bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and submit a strategic plan to Congress for assessing and managing the risks associated with algal toxins in drinking water.