Supporting Goals of Red Ribbon Week
SUPPORTING GOALS OF RED RIBBON WEEK
S. RES. 457
Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I, Senators COLLINS, MIKULSKI, BOND and over 35 cosponsors are supporting a resolution designating the week of October 24-30, 2004 as National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.
The need to combat the severe threat of lead poisoning to our children's health has never been greater. It is estimated that 25 million homes nationwide have lead hazards. Many of those homes were built before 1950 when paint contained as much as 50 percent lead. Peeling chips and dust from deteriorating lead-based paint are the most common sources of childhood lead poisoning. According to the latest national health estimates, nearly half a million children under the age of 6 suffer from lead poisoning, with these children eight times more likely to come from low-income working families than wealthy families.
Unfortunately, except for severely poisoned children, there is no medical treatment for this disease. Even then, for severely poisoned children treatment may only reduce the level of lead present in the body, not reverse the harm already caused. Research shows that children with elevated blood lead levels are seven times more likely to drop out of high school and six times more likely to have reading disabilities. In addition, it costs an average of $10,000 more a year to educate a lead poisoned child.
We need to find the will and the resources to eradicate childhood lead poisoning in this country. Designating the week of October 24, 2004 through October 30, 2004 as "National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week" will help shine a light on this terrible problem, energize the Federal Government into playing a more active role in eliminating, and help improve local, State and Federal cooperation on this issue. With concerted effort, we can eliminate the tragedy of childhood lead poisoning so that no family in our country has to live in unsafe housing. I am committed to addressing this crisis, and I believe this resolution can encourage more communities to focus on solving this terrible problem.