SYRACUSE, NY— U.S. Rep. John Katko (R, NY-24) today reintroduced the Preventing Lead Poisoning Act, bipartisan legislation that would expand testing for lead exposure among children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), helping to combat the severe and life-long effects of lead poisoning.
Katko introduced this bill alongside U.S. Reps. David Cicilline (D, RI-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (R, PA-01), Gwen Moore (D, WI-01), Joseph Morelle (D, NY-25), and Josh Gottheimer (D, NJ-05). Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).
In 2016, a study found that Syracuse had the nation’s highest percentage of children with lead poisoning between 2009 and 2015. It is estimated that 11% of children in Syracuse tested for lead have elevated levels of lead in their blood. In some neighborhoods on the South Side of the City of Syracuse, more than 24% of children tested for lead have elevated levels. Lead poisoning is prevalent in Syracuse because 90% of homes in the City were built before the federal ban on lead paint in 1978. Lead poisoning can have severe and potentially fatal neurological impacts, with children ages 5 and under at the greatest risk.
Currently, Medicaid relies on guidance that all children enrolled in the program must receive a lead screening test at 12 and 24 months, and between the ages of 24 and 72 months if not previously tested. The Preventing Lead Poisoning Act codifies that guidance into law and expands these requirements to include children enrolled in CHIP. To better understand the prevalence of lead poisoning among children, the bill also directs the CDC to establish data collection best practices for childhood blood level testing, and delivers $10 million in federal funding over two years for state health departments to implement these practices.
“Families in Syracuse and throughout Central New York understand the impact of lead exposure all too well,” Katko said. “Lead poisoning can have a devastating impact on the health and cognitive development of children in our community. Early detection is critical to preventing the long-term impacts of lead exposure and it’s why I’m reintroducing the Preventing Lead Poisoning Act, which helps ensure every at-risk child receives timely lead screening and appropriate care. This bipartisan bill is a critical step forward in reducing the number of children in our community impacted by the devastating effects of lead poisoning.”
“Lead poisoning is an insidious threat to our children and our community,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “It’s especially dangerous to babies and small children who are defenseless against its impact. I strongly support The Preventing Lead Poisoning Act which will ensure more children get screened for lead poisoning more frequently and at critical stages in their development, and I thank Congressman Katko for his work to protect children and families in Syracuse.”
“We wholeheartedly support Congressman Katko’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Act,” said Kerry Quaglia, Home HeadQuarters’ Chief Executive Officer. “Every day our housing and neighborhood development organization sees the impact of the high rates of childhood lead poisoning in our community. This much needed check is a step in the right direction.”
Press release from John Katko’s Press Office.
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