SC Stands with Booker, Gottheimer on Dealing with Lead Problems

Today the New Jersey Sierra Club is joining Senator Booker and Congressman Gottheimer to speak up on New Jersey’s problems with lead. The press conference is taking place at Hackensack High School at 10:30 am. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:

“We have a lead crisis that is threatening our children in schools all across the country and especially in our state. Thousands of children are diagnosed with lead poisoning in New Jersey each year; more than in Flint, Michigan. Lead is getting into our water systems and our schools from old pipes. This is a systemic problem especially seen in our urban areas. Lead is threatening our drinking water and putting our health at risk. The basic needs for a student shouldn’t be: textbook, laptop, and water bottle. We want to thank Senator Booker and Congressman Gottheimer for leading on lead because we need to fix this problem.

“We need to pass legislation such as the one introduced by Congresses man Gottheimer because we need to have more testing to identify the sources of lead and fix these problems. The “Get the Lead out of Schools Act” will ensure that the drinking water in schools across the country is periodically tested and consistently monitored, as well as establish a grant program under the EPA to reimburse costs associated with testing as well as to remediate aging lead water infrastructure. People should be made aware of any lead issues in their schools and homes. We need this bill because it is important to increase testing and transparency when it comes to lead in our schools and communities. We need to get these bills passed and tell Congress to get the lead out.

“The Trump Administration is cutting the EPA’s lead programs by thirty percent. Trump’s budget also includes cutting lead abatement by 30%. This is dangerous because we need that federal funding to fight lead problems in our state. Governor Christie has taken more than $60 million from lead abatement projects in New Jersey. Even though we are doing testing, the funding for it is diverted from the Clean Energy Fund. That means we have to choose between keeping our children warm at home or safe at school. We shouldn’t be using the Poland Spring solution to problems in our schools.

“Lead is one of the most hazardous substances known to man and it impacts children, especially small children. We’re seeing high levels of level across the state but it is especially acute in our urban areas. Lead can cause illness and even in small amounts can lead to brain damage and learning disabilities. Thousands of children are diagnosed with lead poisoning in New Jersey each year; over 3,000 in 2015 alone. New Jersey has a crisis with lead in our drinking water, whether you live in a city, the suburbs, or rural areas. We are proud to stand with our elected officials to get the lead out.”