ICYMI: Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff Highlights Biden-Harris Administration's Investments in Infrastructure and Clean Water in Denver and Salt Lake City

Last week, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff traveled to Denver, CO and Salt Lake City, UT to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration's commitments to reconnecting communities and expanding access to clean water. In Denver, the Second Gentleman and Senior Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez toured the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods. They also highlighted a $35 million investment towards the Reunited Denver Project. This funding is part of President Biden and Vice President Harris' $3.3 billion effort to reconnect and rebuild communities in over 40 states, including those that were divided by transportation infrastructure decades ago and have since been overlooked.

In Salt Lake City, Mr. Emhoff and Director Perez highlighted a $36 million Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant for the renovation of the City Creek Water Treatment Plant. They also announced a $39 million low-interest loan funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace toxic lead pipes and expand access to clean drinking water in Salt Lake City.

Read coverage below:

The Denver Gazette: Second Gentleman, Biden official visit 'underserved' Globeville Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods
[Noah Festenstein, 03/24/2024]

Federal assistance helps better connect the underserved Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods, according to Johnston. Based on what he saw during the visit, Emhoff pointed to "the devastating impact that redlining in the creation of highways that just bisected communities and rise in these brownfield sites, polluted plots have had on this area," he said during a press conference at Argo Park in the Globeville neighborhood.

KSL-TV: Second Gentleman visits Utah touting federal money to help Salt Lake City's aging water pipes
[Lindsay Aerts, 03/22/2024]

Emhoff said the investments are part of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' commitment to clean water access across the county.

"You really have a right to drink clean water. You must have clean drinking water. But with the climate crisis and the aging infrastructure in our country, that is a threat to this essential right," he said. "This new funding will help the much-needed improvements and ensure that local residents are going to have clean water for many, many years to come, which is important through the bipartisan infrastructure law."

The Salt Lake Tribune: SLC will use federal money to replace lead pipes. Here are the areas most likely to be impacted.
[Vanessa Hudson, 03/22/2024]

Salt Lake City will receive $39 million in federal funding to replace lead service lines in the city's drinking water system. Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, announced federal funding to help upgrade the city's aging water infrastructure Friday alongside Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Tom Perez, the senior adviser to President Joe Biden. Salt Lake City will become the first water utility in Utah to receive the federal infrastructure funding.

KSL.com: Second gentleman, White House official tout federal funding to remove lead pipes in SLC
[Bridger Beal-Cvetko, 03/22/2024]

Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, joined Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson at the City Creek Water Treatment Plant in Salt Lake City Friday afternoon to announce a $39 million federal loan to help the city identify and replace lead pipes throughout the city's drinking water system over the next five years.

"Over 9 million homes, day cares and businesses (in the U.S.) receive their water through toxic lead pipes," Emhoff said. "All of this is unacceptable, and all of this must change. We know that access to clean water can literally be the difference between life and death."

Deseret News: Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Biden adviser Tom Perez in Utah to unveil $580 million for water systems
[Gitanjali Poonia, 03/22/2024]

Emhoff also said Salt Lake City is receiving a $40 million low interest loan to replace its existing lead pipes with safer options, making Utah the first state to receive federal funds for such a project. He noted the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities expects to replace anywhere between 9,000 to 14,000 lead pipes.