As I have traveled around the country and tell people I am
from the Flint area, their response has changed from not knowing where Flint
is, to a comment relating to lead in the water. The lead that we released into
our environment for decades through gasoline, paint, and pipes did not simply
go away. It is still in our homes and in our soil. The Flint Water Crisis put a
spotlight on the issue, and it is increasingly putting lead on the national
stage. This momentum has resulted in one presidential candidate incorporating
lead poisoning and prevention policies in his political platform.
Julian Castro recently released a plan that makes lead a
priority. He calls for $5 billion per year for 10 years “to remediate lead in
paint and soil and replace lead pipes in areas of highest need.” Although this
amount does not meet the estimated $500 billion needed to eliminate lead, it is
a step in the right direction on an often overlooked issue. Castro also plans
to convene a Presidential Taskforce on lead to coordinate an interagency and
intergovernmental response, endorses the Home Lead Safety
Tax Credit Act, and updates standards for homes and public buildings.
In the wake of the Flint Water Crisis, Castro plans to
improve prevention measures and our ability to respond. His plan does this by
allowing federal funds to be used for a hybrid disaster, which is caused
partially by nature and partially by humans. Blood testing of newborns and
children up to age two would be expanded through healthcare and “as a
requirement in government-financed healthcare programs.” These are just some of
the steps Castro plans to take to address the damage being done by exposure to
lead.
The lead poisoning that occurred in Flint was tragic, but the
spotlight on lead has not only made Americans but national leaders more aware
of the dangers of lead in our aging infrastructure and homes. National
leadership is crucial in order for lead poisoning and prevention policies to
reach all communities. Including lead policies in a presidential campaign is
moving us in the right direction and may encourage other leaders to take a
stronger stance as well. To read more about Julian Castro’s plan, follow the
link below.
https://www.julianforthefuture.com/news-events/endleadpoisoning/
Written by Marc
Jaruzel, Michigan Environmental Council intern and University of Michigan
graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Policy
