Ehrlich on Washington column, August 25, 2002

с MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Rood, Suita 304 Lurttwvilla, Могу lond 2 1 093 315 Cannon Hoosa Office Building Washington, D.C 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of August 25, 2002 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Getting the Lead Out in Maryland After years of neglect by the Glendening-Townsend Administration, the Baltimore Sun uncovered a serious health epidemic in Baltimore City - lead paint poisoning. Two years ago, lead exposure in Baltimore City was at crisis proportions with more than 7,000 children poisoned every year. Today, the State of Maryland ranks as one of the most toxic states in the nation. While the heaviest concentration of lead paint poisoning cases is in Baltimore City, lead paint exists everywhere there are houses built before 1978. Many responsible property owners are cleaning up older housing stock and are utilizing liability protections provided under a historic law that I supported when I was in the Maryland General Assembly. Unfortunately, too many property owners are unaware of the law or, even worse, choose not to comply with the law. Lead paint poisoning causes severe behavioral disorders and learning disabilities in children. In many cases, exposure to lead, which is linked to aggressive and criminal behavior, is concentrated in hot zones where residents consistently test for high levels of lead in their bloodstream. If we are to stop lead paint poisoning, we must focus on preventing lead exposure before it occurs, instead of reacting every time a child is sent to the emergency room loaded with lead. Accordingly, I have been fighting for federal initiatives to help our state and local officials address this chronic health hazard. During the last two years, I have sent letters to House Appropriators advocating for additional funding for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office for Lead Hazard Control. In addition, I joined with my colleagues from Maryland in support of funding grants for the Kennedy-Krieger Institute to help children inflicted with lead paint poisoning, especially those who have developed severe behavioral disorders.