Deirdre Cummings
Legislative Director, MASSPIRG
617-747-4319
[email protected]
State bill to “Get the Lead Out” of schools and childcare centers passes legislative committee; one step closer to passage
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MASSPIRG
State bill to “Get the Lead Out” of schools and childcare centers passes legislative committee; one step closer to passage
BOSTON – The Massachusetts legislature’s Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture moved the Act ensuring safe drinking water in schools (H.906/S.580) forward today, following a favorable report. The bill now heads to the Senate.
In response, supporters issued the following statements:
MASSPIRG’s Legislative Director Deirdre Cummings
“We are grateful to the chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, Rep. Carolyn Dykema and Sen. Becca Rausch, and all the committee members, for giving a favorable report to this important bill filed by Sen. Joan Lovely and Rep. Lori Ehrlich. The bill protects children’s health by getting lead out of water at all schools and childcare centers in Massachusetts.
“We know exposure to lead is harmful, especially to children. Yet so many of our kids are exposed to lead in school drinking water. In fact, the Department of Environmental Protection has reported that more than half of the 43,000 taps tested from 980 schools across Massachusetts have tested positive for lead. Passage of this bill will remove this toxic threat and make schools and child care centers safer places for our child to learn and play.“
The bill’s chief senate sponsor Senator Joan Lovely (Salem)
“It is an ethical and moral imperative that we do everything in our power as parents and legislators to safeguard the health and well-being of our children. Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can impair a child’s physical and mental development. By testing pipes in schools, we can detect this dangerous chemical and make the necessary repairs and replacements so that our children are better protected against this public health risk. Thank you to former Representative Lori Ehrlich for your continued partnership and MASSPIRG for your continued support.”
Jackie Coogan, Massachusetts Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
“Children are at especially high risk of serious harm from lead poisoning because lead is particularly toxic to their rapidly growing and developing brains. This toxin can seriously alter a child’s ability to learn, communicate, pay attention, and control their behavior. Passage of this bill is a significant investment in the health and well-being of our youngest residents.”
Environment Massachusetts State Director Ben Hellerstein
“Everyone should have access to clean, safe drinking water — especially our kids, whose health is most at risk from lead pollution. With thousands of tests showing lead in Massachusetts’ schools, we can’t afford to waste any time if we want to protect children from this clear health threat.”
