Slaughter Pushes to Strengthen Federal Response to Lead Poisoning

Statement

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter today called on the federal government to honor its commitment to families and communities affected by lead poisoning by increasing support for preventing exposure to lead and treating those affected by lead contamination. Slaughter specifically requested that the Obama Administration coordinate a government-wide response to lead poisoning and provide at least $149 million for these efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in next year's budget. Slaughter made her request in a letter to the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Shaun Donovan, as he works to compile to administration's budget request for Fiscal Year 2017, which is due in the spring.

"There are more than 500,000 children from one to five years old with blood lead levels above five micrograms per deciliter in the United States, which can lead to lifelong cognitive damage," Rep. Slaughter wrote to Secretary Donovan. "Children exposed to lead are seven times more likely to drop out of school, further putting their futures at risk. Furthermore, lead poisoning continues to disproportionately impact low-income areas and communities of color, contributing to racial, health, and economic disparities across the country. The annual costs of lead poisoning to society are over $50 billion. These costs are even more regrettable since lead poisoning is 100 percent preventable."

Slaughter's letter requests at least $120 million for HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes--including $25 million for the Healthy Homes Program--and $29 million to fully support the CDC's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program. Slaughter also asked that the CDC's program name be returned to "Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention" as this will allow the CDC to target other common household hazards in addition to lead. These commitments would build on previous work done by the administration to protect the health of individuals and families across the country.

To read Slaughter's letter to Secretary Donovan, click here.

Congresswoman Slaughter has been one of the nation's leading advocates working to protect children and communities from lead poisoning. She recently pushed the Department of Justice for a federal investigation into abuse of lead-poisoning victims and pressed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to look into potentially predatory practices targeting these victims. In 2007, she worked with then-Senator Obama to introduce legislation to protect against lead poisoning and last year successfully secured $110 million to support efforts to prevent lead poisoning. She also wrote and passed legislation that restored $35 million to the Office of Lead Control at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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