[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 145 (Thursday, October 16, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S12734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           NATIONAL CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise to thank my colleagues for 
designating the week of October 19-25, 2003 as National Childhood Lead 
Poisoning Prevention Week. S. Res. 243, the resolution making next week 
National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, was cosponsored by 
44 of my colleagues and passed the Senate last night by unanimous 
consent.
  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 is one of 
the most common sources of childhood lead poisoning. According to the 
latest national health estimates, nearly one-half of a million children 
under the age of 6 suffer from lead poisoning, with these children 8 
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, 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 our of high school and 6 
times more likely to have reading disabilities. And 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 last full week in 
October as National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week will help 
shine a light on this terrible problem, energize the Federal Government 
into playing a more effective role, and improve local, State and 
Federal cooperation in the process. 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 believe this resolution can encourage communities to 
focus on solving the problem.

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