HUD Becomes Lead Poisoning ‘Fall Guy’

A legislative strategy designed to pump millions of federal dollars into lead poisoning solutions points to HUD as the principal reason the Flint, MI water supply was polluted with excessive levels of lead.  Placing blame on HUD for maintaining outdated lead standards provides Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Robert Menendez (D-NY) with the rationale for introducing a bill to protect children in subsidized and low-cost housing from lead poisoning. Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) submit companion legislation in the House. The proposed Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act would require HUD to adopt prevention measures and update its lead regulations to protect children from the risk of lead exposure. While the department has aggressively pursued landlords to remedy lead paint exposure, the lawmakers contend the effort is [...]

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