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Statement

National Groups Call on Congress to Fund Efforts to Address Children’s Lead Exposure in Flint and Other Cities

November 28, 2016
Youth & Family Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

“As organizations dedicated to protecting and improving the health, safety and well-being of America’s children and families, we feel it is critical that Congress passes funding assistance before the end of the year for Flint, MI and other communities affected by lead contamination. 
 
“No level of lead is safe for children and even trace amounts can cause irreversible damage to a child’s brain development and nervous system. Yet children and families in Flint, MI and other communities have been waiting for over a year for help to address this crisis and prevent future cases of lead exposure. 
 
“Congress promised this funding in September, and we strongly urge them to keep their word and pass the $220 million in funding approved by the Senate before the end of the year, so that these communities can begin to take steps to improve water systems to assist those affected by lead-poisoning, and make sure our schools and homes are safe for kids and families.”
 
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
 
American Academy of Pediatrics: Jamie Poslosky, jposlosky@aap.org, 202-347-8600
Coalition on Human Needs: David Elliot, Delliot@chn.org, 202 223-2532 x118
First Focus Campaign for Children: Meg Biallas, megb@firstfocus.org, 202.657.0664
MomsRising: Gretchen Wright, gretchen@prsolutionsdc.com, 202-371-1999
 
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is a non-profit professional organization of 66,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical sub-specialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
 
CHN is an alliance of more than 100 national organizations, representing hundreds of thousands of people nationwide, including service providers, faith-based groups, labor, civil rights, and policy expert organizations, and other advocates concerned with meeting the needs of low-income and vulnerable people.
 
The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a nonpartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are a priority in federal policy and budget decisions
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.