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NJ Lawmakers Commit to Lead Prevention Funding in Budget 3/22/2016 New Jersey Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D- Bergen/Hudson) joined local families, community leaders, and advocates at a State House press conference today to build support for funding childhood lead prevention in the state budget. The event was part of the #LeadFreeKidsNJ campaign to get $10 million appropriated in the FY 2017 state budget for the Lead Hazard Assistance Control Fund (LHACF). “Since Christie’s pocket veto of these funds, we’ve all been disheartened to learn about lead in water in our public schools. Lead poisoning is an epidemic facing our kids and our communities,” said Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. “Our elected officials must step in and end this preventable health crisis. We are grateful to the leaders and members of the Legislature who have committed today to funding lead prevention in the budget and urge their colleagues and the governor to do the same.” Since the revelation that 3,100 children were diagnosed dangerous elevated blood lead levels in the last year and the tainted water supply in Camden and Newark schools, lawmakers at the federal and state levels of government have taken action. Bills have been introduced to require government regulations for the evaluation of lead contaminated dust levels in children be consistent with the Center for Disease Control standards. Also, efforts to expand inspections in homes and schools are currently under consideration. "There is no higher priority than protecting the well-being of our children,” said Senate President Sweeney. “Exposure to lead is a very real and very dangerous threat to the health of thousands of children through both lead based paint and in crumbling infrastructure. Today I committed to making sure $10 Million is appropriated for the Lead Hazard Control Fund and I strongly urge the governor to keep it there." “It’s been roughly 40 years since a concerted effort began to remove lead from household products and yet we’re still seeing the devastating effects lead can have on our children, particularly in communities with older housing stock,” said Speaker Prieto. “We can and should be doing more. I’ve joined the Senate President in pledging to make sure that funding for lead abatement is included in this year’s budget. For the sake of so many children, and their future, I hope the governor will join us in this commitment.” Nonprofit community developers witness the scope of the problem first hand. The LHACF would support their work to remediate hazards found in older housing stock they say. “Given the age and deteriorating conditions of much of Camden’s housing stock, we know that lead exposure is always a risk,” said Bridget Phifer, executive director of the Camden based Parkside Business and Community in Partnership. “Even demolition can be harmful if appropriate precautions aren’t taken because the dust spreads so easily.” “Due to limited resources, we’re only able to remediate a limited portion of the lead contamination families may face,” said Raymond Ocasio, executive director of La Casa de Don Pedro. “More often than not, lead still remains in other areas of the home because program constraints prevent us from addressing it.” “Last month, the governor said if funding for lead prevention was important to the people of NJ, he would include it in his budget - he did not,” said Ann Vardeman, program director for NJ Citizen Action. “Over 3,000 poisoned children is ‘over-dramatized’ he claims. We’re thankful to our legislative leaders for recognizing this health epidemic and taking action to protect our children.” For more information on the Lead Hazard Assistance Control Fund and #LeadFreeKidsNJ, visit www.hcdnnj.org/lead. About the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ For more information: Nina Arce |
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