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Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2008

Date: July 29, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Environment


LEAD-SAFE HOUSING FOR KIDS ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - July 29, 2008)

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Mr. ELLISON. Let me also thank the gentleman from California. Madam Speaker, it's wonderful when we can come together on both sides of the aisle to protect our children. In fact, one of the most important things we can do is to protect community and children, and so I am honored to be able to share the floor with the gentleman tonight.

With that, Madam Speaker, let me just thank all of the community groups that came forward, including Sierra Club, Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota, and many others who have come to make this moment possible.

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Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I want to extend my appreciation to the gentleman from Massachusetts, Chairman FRANK, for his cooperation in working out issues related to the bill's definition of ``elevated intervention blood lead level''. I also commend him for his help in maintaining the relationship between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in carrying out the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, as well as preserving the respective roles of the health-based agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in making recommendations regarding the environmental intervention blood lead level, and the EPA in establishing that level under section 403 of the Toxic Substances Control Act.

I have strong concerns, however, about a provision that was not in the original bill and was added during the Financial Services committee process. This provision would only provide the benefits of the new protective blood lead level recommended by the CDC in the bill to children, including children in public housing agencies, in those instances in which the Federal Government pays for the cost of compliance. I doubt whether the Federal resources budgeted or appropriated will ever be adequate to protect all children who need to be protected from exposure to lead-based paint at the recommended CDC level. All children should have the same level of health protection from lead hazards. This level of health protection should not depend on where a child lives.

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