[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 144 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S12632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           NATIONAL CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 243 introduced 
earlier today by Senator Reed of Rhode Island.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 243) designating the week of October 
     19, 2003, through October 25, 2003, as National Childhood 
     Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BURNS. I further ask unanimous consent that the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, all with no intervening action or debate, and that any 
statements relating to this matter be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 243) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 243

       Whereas lead poisoning is a leading environmental health 
     hazard to children in the United States;
       Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, 434,000 preschool children in the United States 
     have harmful levels of lead in their blood;
       Whereas lead poisoning may cause serious, long-term harm to 
     children, including reduced intelligence and attention span, 
     behavior problems, learning disabilities, and impaired 
     growth;
       Whereas children from low-income families are 8 times more 
     likely to be poisoned by lead than are children from high-
     income families;
       Whereas children may be poisoned by lead in water, soil, or 
     consumable products;
       Whereas children most often are poisoned in their homes 
     through exposure to lead particles when lead-based paint 
     deteriorates or is disturbed during home renovation and 
     repainting; and
       Whereas lead poisoning crosses all barriers of race, 
     income, and geography: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of October 19, 2003, through 
     October 25, 2003, as ``National Childhood Lead Poisoning 
     Prevention Week''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     week with appropriate programs and activities.

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