Leaders Delivered Infrastructure Jobs Bill, Failed to Prioritize Lead Drinking Water Pipe Removal 

May 18, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. PAUL, MN — Today, Joel Smith, President and Business Manager of LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota released the following statement after the Minnesota Legislature passed a $1.2 billion infrastructure jobs bill.

“Our leaders deserve credit for passing a $1.2 billion infrastructure jobs bill that will make progress towards fixing Minnesota’s crumbling roads and bridges, water infrastructure, and public buildings. Every year should be the year to fix Minnesota and put thousands of construction Laborers to work.

“Our leaders' failure to prioritize lead drinking water pipe removal is unacceptable. In communities across the state, 90,000 lead lines need to be replaced by 2033. $15 million will remove only 1,200 pipes. At this rate, it would take 75 years to get the job done.

“The $254 million spent on a one-time rollback of license tab fees would have been much better spent removing more than 20,000 lead pipes that are endangering Minnesota children and families. This is a public health issue and a local jobs issue. We call on our leaders to make new, dedicated funding for lead drinking water pipe removal a priority next year.”