Galesburg officials and Rep. Cheri Bustos deserve credit for their response to elevated levels of lead in Knox County children’s blood according to Sen. Dick Durbin.
He says Bustos’ response was “very positive,” which included securing $4 million in forgivable federal loans to replace lead service lines and introducing legislation to fund the nation’s water infrastructure.
The remarks were made at a press conference prior to delivering the Knox College Commencement address yesterday.
Knox County health officials have stressed however that it’s likely 80 to 90 percent of a child’s likely exposure to lead comes from lead paint and dust in homes.
Durbin tells WGIL he’s introduced his own legislation aimed at reducing the risk for lead exposure for children living in federally assisted housing.
“Water is the first thing we think of because we depend on it to exist but for many of these kids these paint chips are really poisonous,” Durbin says. “Housing and Urban Development could do a better job in terms of the standards they use and the policies they follow to keep people safe.”
The bill would redefine what is considered an elevated blood lead level from 20 mg/dl to 5 mg/dl and require emergency relocation of families in federally assisted housing if a family with children under the age of six are living in a unit with lead based paint.
