The cuts, a spokeswoman for the EPA told The Washington Post, are intended to give state and local governments “the responsibility for funding state and local entities.” Funding for programs fighting lead poisoning has already suffered. In Chicago, where more than 10,300 kids under the age of six suffer from elevated levels of lead in their blood, officials were already spending less on combating lead paint due to reduced federal funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Cuts to EPA programs could exacerbate the situation via a $14.05 million reduction in grants devoted to state and local programs addressing lead poisoning. Plus, only 14 states, according to The Washington Post, operate programs to properly train contractors on removing lead paint. Well lead poisoning and clean air are two of the big child health issues there.

Source: Huffington Post April 06, 2017 23:03 UTC