2012 -- H 8148

=======

LC02584

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TO RESTORE FUNDING

FOR THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL'S HEALTHY HOMES AND LEAD

POISONING PREVENTION PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Representative Arthur Handy

     Date Introduced: May 09, 2012

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

1-1

     WHEREAS, In the FY12 budget recently approved by Congress, the Centers for Disease

1-2

Control’s (CDC) Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program suffered a devastating

1-3

94 percent cut. Without immediate intervention to reallocate the funding necessary to save this

1-4

program, nearly half a million children nationwide may fail to receive the critical preventative

1-5

services they need in the coming weeks and months; and

1-6

     WHEREAS, Lead poisoning is a reality for too many children in Rhode Island. In 2011,

1-7

two hundred children were newly diagnosed with lead poisoning in the Ocean State; and

1-8

     WHEREAS, The annual incidence rate of lead poisoning in Rhode Island has declined

1-9

significantly over the past decade from 5.8 percent of children screened in 2001, to just 0.8

1-10

percent of children screened in 2011. This significant progress testifies to the effectiveness of

1-11

Rhode Island’s response to lead poisoning and provides evidence that supports continued funding

1-12

for a program that works. Rhode Island needs to continue to focus on primary prevention and

1-13

lead-safe housing to protect children from lead poisoning and respond to lower blood lead levels;

1-14

and

1-15

     WHEREAS, If, as expected, the Centers for Disease Control lowers the threshold for

1-16

childhood lead poisoning from the current rate of 10 mcg/dL to 5 mcg/dL, the number of new

1-17

cases of lead poisoning in Rhode Island in 2011 would increase from 200 to 1,279; and

1-18

     WHEREAS, In the fight against lead poisoning, the Centers for Disease Control’s

1-19

Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is on the front line. CDC-funded health

1-20

officials in thirty-five states around the country get the call when kids in their communities are

2-1

lead poisoned and make sure these children receive immediate help; and

2-2

     WHEREAS, Studies show that serious poisoning cases have been under-counted.

2-3

Funding for intervention should increase, not disappear; and

2-4

     WHEREAS, This is a critical opportunity to take a stand on two major issues confronting

2-5

policy-makers: environmental justice and education. Low-income families and children of color

2-6

continue to suffer a disproportionate impact from lead poisoning. In some areas of the country,

2-7

African-American and Latino children are eight to nine times more likely to enter school with a

2-8

history of lead poisoning; and

2-9

      WHEREAS, Studies show that educating a child with lead poisoning costs an extra

2-10

$38,000, on average. Additionally, children poisoned by lead are seven times more likely to drop

2-11

out of school and six times more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system. If even half of the

2-12

children with lead poisoning access the educational services they need and deserve, tax payers

2-13

would save $10 billion; now, therefore be it

2-14

      RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

2-15

Providence Plantations hereby urges President Barack Obama to restore funding to the CDC’s

2-16

Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. The stakes are simply too high for

2-17

Rhode Island’s children; and be it further

2-18

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

2-19

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to President Barack Obama, the United States

2-20

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and the Rhode Island

2-21

Congressional Delegation.

=======

LC02584

=======