[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 27427-27428]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           NATIONAL CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK

  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today in observance of 
``National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week'' to highlight the 
problem of childhood lead poisoning and the deficiencies within the 
current system of detection and prevention.
  Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health hazard to our 
children, despite a ban on the manufacture of lead paint and efforts to 
remove lead from gasoline and dietary sources. It is estimated that 
800,000 children today suffer from elevated lead levels. Lead poisoning 
attacks a child's nervous system, impairing physical, mental, and 
behavioral development. Extreme exposure can cause seizures, brain 
damage, comas, and even death. And, inadequate diet and exposure to 
environmental hazards such as old housing make the threat greatest for 
those who possess the fewest resources to confront it--our Nation's 
poor children.
  This is why in 1992 Congress required states to test every Medicaid 
recipient under age two for lead poisoning. Mandatory screening would 
enable the highest-risk children to be tested and treated before lead 
poisoning impairs their development. However, many Medicaid providers 
are not conducting the required screening. A recent GAO study found 
that two-thirds of the children on Medicaid have never been screened 
for lead. In New Jersey, only 39% of children covered by Medicaid are 
tested.
  A report issued this past summer from the Alliance to End Childhood 
Lead Poisoning and the National Center for Lead-Safe Housing provides 
new information regarding the extent of this problem. This report, a 
state-by-state analysis of follow-up care provided to lead-poisoned 
children, found that only 29 states have standards for how to care for 
lead-poisoned children. The report also found that only 35 states have 
developed specific strategies for investigating lead hazards in 
poisoned children's homes. And, 22 states reported that they lack the 
necessary funding to make a home safe for a lead-poisoned child.
  This report presents compelling evidence in support of legislation, 
S.1120, the Children's Lead SAFE Act of 1999, introduced by Senator 
Reed and myself to strengthen lead screening policy. This legislation 
would ensure that every federal program which serves at risk kids is 
involved in the lead screening process. Our bill would require WIC and 
Head Start centers to determine if

[[Page 27428]]

a child has been tested and ensure testing for those children who have 
not. As 75% of at-risk children are enrolled in federal health care 
programs, this would ensure that no child is overlooked.
  Secondly, the Children's Lead SAFE Act of 1999 would guarantee that 
Medicaid contracts explicitly require health care providers to adhere 
to federal rules for screening and treatment. Currently, many states 
are having Medicaid services provided by health maintenance 
organizations (HMO's). These HMO's, however, either are not conducting 
the required lead screening tests or are only conducting one of two 
required tests. This legislation would effectively stop this corner 
cutting. Our bill would also ensure that states and federal agencies 
have the resources and incentives to complete mandatory screening by 
requiring Medicaid to reimburse WIC and Head Start for screening costs. 
We must create a bonus program that rewards states who screen more than 
65% of their Medicaid population.
  But additional testing is only a first step. Our legislation would 
also focus on prevention by reducing the sources of poisoning and 
provide for follow-up care for those children identified as at-risk. 
This includes expanding Medicaid coverage to include treatment for lead 
poisoning and for environmental investigations to determine its 
sources.
  I am extremely pleased to tell my colleagues that in response to the 
efforts of the Senator from Rhode Island and myself, the Department of 
Health and Human Services has initiated some important steps to address 
the problem. Their efforts include ensuring that state Medicaid 
agencies comply with existing Medicaid policies requiring lead 
screening and requiring states to report the number of children under 
age six screened for lead poisoning. These measures will help us to 
better understand the problem and how to respond to it.
  However, enhancing screening and identifying children exposed to lead 
is only the first step. Identification must be followed with treatment 
and abatement, including controlling the source of lead poisoning. For 
example, my own state of New Jersey has made great efforts in the area 
of abatement. Specifically, New Jersey requires the renovation and 
maintenance of older housing as well as mandating landlords to 
periodically test for lead. New Jersey has also initiated statewide 
programs to educate families on how to find and eliminate lead sources 
from their homes.
  Similarly, on the federal level, the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development provides grants to states and local governments to reduce 
lead hazards in housing. Yet, for every application, there are nine 
that go unfunded. This year, the House tried to cut funding for this 
program by $10 million. Although conferees ultimately restored funding 
equal to the President's request, this attempt demonstrates the need to 
provide greater awareness of the need for lead prevention efforts.
  As the Alliance report suggests, there is more every state must do 
and there is clearly more the federal government can do to protect 
lead-poisoned children. I encourage my colleagues to examine the 
Alliance report and learn about what can be done in your states to 
improve lead poisoning treatment and prevention efforts. Finally, I 
would encourage Senator Roth and Senator Jeffords to begin hearings not 
only on our legislation but also on this issue. In 1992, Congress made 
a commitment to improving our children's health by reducing the 
prevalence of childhood lead poisoning and improving treatment. I urge 
my colleagues to join Senator Reed and myself in fulfilling this 
commitment.

                          ____________________