The Senate Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to meet October 16 to consider Senate Bill 1270 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne), (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring universal lead testing for children (sponsor summary).
Senators John Yudichak and Lisa Baker said this about introducing this bipartisan bill, “[The] effects of lead poisoning are irreversible and severe, including neurological and developmental disabilities. No level of lead is safe for children, and symptoms may not present themselves until it is too late.
“Based on the Department of Health’s most recent Childhood Lead Surveillance Annual Report, only 28 percent of Pennsylvania children under the age of two were screened for blood lead levels in 2015.
“However, testimony presented at a recent public hearing of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee informed us that ALL children may be at risk—based on exposure in their homes or relatives’ homes, in care and educational facilities, or in playgrounds, among other areas.
“Recent discussions and research demonstrate that universal lead testing is a practical and effective protective measure to reduce instances of lead poisoning. Accordingly, our legislation seeks to ensure that all children at ages one and two, as well as pregnant women, are tested.
“Similar legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives as House Bill 666 (Cruz-D-Philadelphia).
“Ten other states and Washington D.C. have already implemented similar laws, and it is important that we act to do the same. We hope you will join us in co-sponsoring this measure.”
The hearing will be held in Hearing Room 1, North Office Building starting at 10:00. Click Here to see if the hearing will be webcast.
Senate Lead Task Force
In June of 2017 the Senate passed Senate Resolution 33 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) creating a bipartisan task force to investigate the scope of Pennsylvania’s lead exposure problem. The Task Force report is due at the end of this year.
In October of 2017, the task force members were named and the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a hearing in Luzerne County on the issue.
Gov. Wolf has also called for the universal testing of blood-lead levels in children.
In February of this year, Senators Yudichak and Baker held a roundtable in Wilkes-Barre on lead exposure and lead testing.
For more information on lead exposure, intervention and education, visit the Department of Health’s Lead Poisoning webpage. For more information on lead in drinking water, visit DEP’s Lead In Drinking Water webpage.
Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7428 or sending email to: lbaker@pasen.gov. Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-8925 or sending email to: SenatorSchwank@pasenate.com.
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