Sen. John T. Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Tuesday announced the Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 33 creating a bipartisan task force to investigate the scope of Pennsylvania’s lead exposure problem.

Sen. Yudichak introduced the resolution earlier this session because lead exposure can threaten the health and wellbeing of every Pennsylvanian—especially senior citizens and children.

“The task force report will advance cooperative efforts to arm the General Assembly with better information and best practice recommendations to develop new lead abatement programs that more aggressively mitigate lead exposure in Pennsylvania,” said Sen. Yudichak.

The resolution calls for the Senate to establish a task force on lead exposure comprised of the chairs of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee and two members appointed by the Senate President pro tempore and the Minority Leader.

An advisory committee of the Joint State Government Commission will conduct a comprehensive review of Pennsylvania law and public policy related to lead exposure and abatement practices and then submit a report to the task force and full Senate within 18-months.

The report must assess the age of housing and infrastructure, lead exposure threats, and identify the prevalence of lead in structures where children spend significant time.

Sen. Yudichak can be contacted by sending email to: yudichak@pasenate.com or call 717-787-7105.

For more information on lead poisoning and risks, visit the Department of Health’s Lead Poisoning webpage.  For more information on lead in water, visit DEP’s Lead In Drinking Water webpage.

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[Posted: June 6, 2017]

6/12/2017