Christie urged to commit $10 million to lead-remediation efforts

Surrounded by advocates for lead-remediation efforts

Surrounded by advocates for lead-remediation efforts

New Jersey legislative leaders says funding a program to remove lead-based paint from homes should be a budget priority.

Assembly Speaker Vinnie Prieto said he is hoping Governor Christie will sign legislation dedicating $10 million to the Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund.

“It’s unacceptable to these healthy children that actually can have a lot of lifelong effects by this exposure, and it only takes a remediation of it that would take it away completely,” said Prieto, D-Hudson. This is something that we have to fund.”

During a Tuesday news conference attended by supporters of the effort, Senate President Steve Sweeney said public awareness of lead hazards is increasing and that may convince Christie to approve that funding.

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“There’s just too many people that are aware of it and are concerned about it,” said Sweeney, D-Gloucester. “We love our children. We don’t want to cripple and disable our children because of where they live or the water they drink.”

Sweeney also urged that all schools in New Jersey test their water for lead contamination.

Advocates said that dust from lead paint is a bigger threat than water contamination, and funds to remove it from homes should be the priority.

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