Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on Thursday led a group of 19 senators to call for robust federal funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) lead-based paint abatement, inspection, and enforcement programs. The senators noted that despite a decline in overall exposure—blood lead levels have declined by more than 90% since the mid-1970s—lead poisoning continues to be a problem in places with older homes and buildings. Lead-based paint is the most common source of childhood lead exposure. Among the negative health effects of lead exposure in children and adults are decreased performance of the nervous system, severe damage to the brain and kidneys, and even death.
EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance takes federal enforcement actions regarding lead paint regulation, holding contractors, landlords, and property managers accountable. The program funding is also used to clean up lead-contaminated waste sites.
The senators wrote to urge “robust funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) lead-based paint abatement, inspection, and enforcement programs” and noted that “despite a decline in overall exposure, lead poisoning continues to be a problem in places with older homes and buildings.” The senators requested robust federal funding for the EPA programs and affirmed that “keeping our communities safe from lead continues to be a priority of the federal government.”
In addition to Gillibrand, the letter was signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
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