Posted: | December 12, 2017 03:55 PM |
---|---|
From: | Senator John T. Yudichak and Sen. Lisa Baker |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Universal Lead Testing for Children |
In the near future, we plan to introduce legislation to ensure that all children in Pennsylvania receive blood tests to detect lead poisoning. As you may know, exposure to lead is especially harmful to children during early formative years. 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% 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 HB 666 (Cruz). 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. |
Introduced as SB1270