One Step Closer to Tackling Wisconsin’s Lead Crisis
MADISON – The following is a statement from Senator Chris Larson regarding the Senate passage of Senate Bill 48: “Each of our neighbors deserve to live in a healthy, safe community. Lead pipes are an avoidable public illness that is quietly devastating Wisconsin neighborhoods. Over the past few decades there has been significant research revealing how devastatingly harmful lead exposure is for both children and adults. We must prioritize addressing and preventing lead poisoning in our children. “Tackling the threat of lead poisoning is a moral and economic imperative. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), our state would save $7 billion if the threat of lead poisoning was eliminated. This includes savings in medical care, special education, and even crime reduction among adults and youth. “Today, the Senate took up a bipartisan bill (Senate Bill 48) that moves our state one small step towards addressing Wisconsin’s lead crisis. During the state budget debate last month, Senate Democrats fought for Wisconsin to take swift action by introducing a Lead Abatement Amendment, which would have committed the necessary funds to provide adequate relief to communities access the state, after Senate Bill 48 was stalled in committee for months. “I urge my Republican colleagues to continue the momentum and take immediate action to keep our kids safe from being further poisoned by lead. Among the available bills are Senate Bill 41, which would protect renters from lead poisoning, Senate Bill 141, which would give schools more flexibility to invest in lead abatement costs, Senate Joint Resolution 67, a bill to declare a Lead Poison Prevention Week in Wisconsin. “So far, despite the lead pipe crisis, none of these bills have even received a public hearing.”
MADISON – The following is a statement from Senator Chris Larson regarding the Senate passage of Senate Bill 48:
“Each of our neighbors deserve to live in a healthy, safe community. Lead pipes are an avoidable public illness that is quietly devastating Wisconsin neighborhoods. Over the past few decades there has been significant research revealing how devastatingly harmful lead exposure is for both children and adults. We must prioritize addressing and preventing lead poisoning in our children.
“Tackling the threat of lead poisoning is a moral and economic imperative. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), our state would save $7 billion if the threat of lead poisoning was eliminated. This includes savings in medical care, special education, and even crime reduction among adults and youth.
“Today, the Senate took up a bipartisan bill (Senate Bill 48) that moves our state one small step towards addressing Wisconsin’s lead crisis. During the state budget debate last month, Senate Democrats fought for Wisconsin to take swift action by introducing a Lead Abatement Amendment, which would have committed the necessary funds to provide adequate relief to communities access the state, after Senate Bill 48 was stalled in committee for months.
“I urge my Republican colleagues to continue the momentum and take immediate action to keep our kids safe from being further poisoned by lead. Among the available bills are Senate Bill 41, which would protect renters from lead poisoning, Senate Bill 141, which would give schools more flexibility to invest in lead abatement costs, Senate Joint Resolution 67, a bill to declare a Lead Poison Prevention Week in Wisconsin.
“So far, despite the lead pipe crisis, none of these bills have even received a public hearing.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Lead Crisis
- Superintendent Jill Underly Proposes Lead Water Removal Program For Schools - Baylor Spears - Nov 15th, 2024
- Milwaukee Adopts New Policy Requesting More Lead Testing For Children - Nick Rommel - Oct 24th, 2024
- EPA Strengthens Standards to Protect Children from Exposure to Lead Paint Dust - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Oct 24th, 2024
- Baldwin Announces $86 Million for Clean and Safe Drinking Water in Wisconsin Through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Oct 23rd, 2024
- DHS Encourages Wisconsinites to Take Action to Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Oct 21st, 2024
- DNR Says Wisconsin Could Meet New Rule To Replace All Lead Pipes in 10 Years - Trevor Hook - Oct 12th, 2024
- Biden Announces New Funds, Deadline For Lead Pipe Replacement - Sophie Bolich - Oct 8th, 2024
- Biden-Harris Administration Issues Final Rule Requiring Replacement of Lead Pipes Within 10 Years, Announces Funding to Provide Clean Water to Schools and Homes - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Oct 8th, 2024
- City Hall: Ahead of Biden Visit, Council, DPW Officials Question Efficacy of Replacing Lead Pipes - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 7th, 2024
- Baldwin Delivers Nearly $13 Million for Milwaukee and Kenosha to Remove Dangerous Lead Paint - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Oct 7th, 2024
Read more about Lead Crisis here
Recent Press Releases by State Sen. Chris Larson
