Representatives Gwen Moore, David N. Cicilline, and John Katko Lead Call for Increased Funding in FY 2023 for Federal Lead Poisoning Prevention Efforts

In a letter to leaders of the House Appropriations Committee, Representatives Gwen Moore, David N. Cicilline, and John Katko, joined by approximately 50 of their colleagues, wrote a letter calling for $90 million in FY 2023 funding for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program and $460 million for lead activities at the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes.

“There’s no safe level of lead exposure for children. Sadly, each year, 2,500 kids in Milwaukee test positive for elevated blood lead levels. That’s 2,500 children too many. I am working to rid our homes and communities of this toxin, so all of our babies have every opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.

That’s why I once again am leading this bipartisan effort, along with Rep. Cicilline and Katko, calling for increased funding for the CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program so that it can reach additional jurisdictions directly, including cities like Milwaukee, to help support proven public health steps to identify and refer to treatment, children with elevated blood levels. HUD’s efforts are also critical to help remediate sources of lead poisoning in the home, so that families and children can live in safe and healthy homes.” said Rep. Gwen Moore.

“Every Rhode Islander deserves – and has the right to – a clean, lead-free home,” said Rep. Cicilline. “With this funding, we will be able to expand the CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program to more communities and ensure that HUD has the resources it needs to keep all our children safe.”

“I am proud to join my colleagues in advocating for increased funding for the CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program,” said Rep. Katko. “Children in Central New York, and especially in the City of Syracuse, continue to suffer from the effects of lead exposure, which can have a devastating impact on health and cognitive development. In Congress, I have been a leader on efforts to expand lead abatement and screening programs to prevent lead poisoning. I am eager to once again advocate for this funding, which will help reduce the number of children in our community impacted by lead exposure.”

Read the full text of the letter here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.