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The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 212, the Drinking Water Protection Act, sponsored by Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH). The bipartisan legislation would help protect drinking water from harmful cyanotoxins, which caused a water emergency in Northwest Ohio last August.

“I am proud to have sponsored the Drinking Water Protection – the House’s bipartisan legislative solution to address the health of our drinking water,” said Latta. “This thoughtful, robust approach adequately assesses and manages the risks of algal toxins in our drinking water, and I am pleased that we could come together to pass this critical legislation in the House today. I also look forward to working with the U.S. Senate, so the Drinking Water Protection Act may become law.”

The Drinking Water Protection would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and submit a strategic plan to Congress for assessing and managing the risks associated with algal toxins in drinking water. Companion legislation was also introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH).

To hear Congressman Latta’s opening remarks on the House floor, watch the video below:

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