Congresswoman Cheri Bustos announced federal funding for lead abatement that will be available to families in Galesburg and across Illinois. The funding will come through the Department of Housing and Urban Development – specifically, the Lead Hazard Reduction Program and HUD’s Healthy Homes funding. This grant announcement gives $3.6 million to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help families afford lead abatement in their homes. The City of Galesburg is encouraging families who are interested in applying for funding to contact City Housing Coordinator Judy Guenseth at 345-3652. In a statement, Bustos said the “news is welcome and overdue for folks across Illinois who want nothing more than a safe and lead-free home to raise their family.” Bustos previously helped deliver $4 million in federal funding to help the City of Galesburg replace lead service lines that threatened the safety of families’ drinking water. A month ago, Bustos along with District 1 Representative Bobby Rush introduced the Safe Drinking Water Act, a bill that would establish a $50 million grant program within EPA that would allow local education agencies and districts to replace lead service lines and lead solder used in school plumbing.
