Julin Castro, the former Housing and Urban Development secretary, laid out his plan Monday to eliminate lead poisoning as a major public health threat in America becoming the first 2020 presidential hopeful to announce a dedicated plan on the issue.
Castros proposal, first reported by BuzzFeed , comes on the heels of the Democrats weekend visit to Flint, Michigan, where a water crisis has plagued and sickened residents since 2014, when the citys drinking water source was switched to the Flint River as a cost-cutting measure.
Today Im putting forward a plan to combat lead exposure across the country, and to ensure that no families experience what those in Flint have had to endure, Castro told BuzzFeed in a statement.
The residents of Flint feel forgotten & betrayed. I heard from residents this weekend who appreciated me showing up to highlight their storybut want to know what I will do to ensure this doesnt happen again. Here's my plan to combat lead exposure: https://t.co/9U1Ahz6QSS
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Castro","slug":"julin-castro","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/juli%C3%A1n-castro"},{"name":"United States Department of Housing and Urban Development","slug":"united-states-department-of-housing-and-urban-development","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/united-states-department-of-housing-and-urban-development","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-department-of-housing-and-urban-development","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-department-of-housing-and-urban-development"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-department-of-housing-and-urban-development"},{"name":"Karen Weaver","slug":"karen-weaver","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/karen-weaver","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/karen-weaver","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/karen-weaver"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/karen-weaver"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">The residents of Flint feel forgotten & betrayed. I heard from residents this weekend who appreciated me showing up to highlight their storybut want to know what I will do to ensure this doesnt happen again. Here's my plan to combat lead exposure: https://t.co/9U1Ahz6QSS
Julin Castro (@JulianCastro) June 10, 2019
Castros plan, which can now be found on his campaign website , includes the establishment of a presidential task force on the issue and a national assessment of communities at risk of lead poisoning. Castro said he would ask Congress for $5 billion per year for 10 years to reduce such risk in areas of highest need and would take steps to ensure that federal funds and other support would be immediately available if another lead emergency should arise.
For families with children with elevated blood lead levels, Castro said support would be provided to them in the way of counseling, tutoring, education on nutritional needs and other interventions.
Castro toured Flint on Saturday with Mayor Karen Weaver and U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.). He said he was in the city to hear about the progress that still needs to be made in the community, and to let them know that we havent forgotten about them.
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To this day, Flint residents are advised to only drink filtered tap water or bottled water .
Five years since the beginning of the Flint water crisis and many folks still dont have access to clean water. I traveled to Flint this weekend to send the message to folks in this community that on this campaign, and in my administration, we wont forget them. pic.twitter.com/2DvfZ2wxHR
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Weaver","slug":"karen-weaver","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/karen-weaver","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/karen-weaver","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/karen-weaver"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/karen-weaver"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">Five years since the beginning of the Flint water crisis and many folks still dont have access to clean water. I traveled to Flint this weekend to send the message to folks in this community that on this campaign, and in my administration, we wont forget them. pic.twitter.com/2DvfZ2wxHR
Julin Castro (@JulianCastro) June 9, 2019
Contaminated tap water is a problem that extends far beyond Michigans borders.
According to a March National Geographic report , a quarter of Americans drink water from systems that dont meet safety standards. A Harvard study in January warned that millions of children across the country may be drinking lead-contaminated water in their schools.
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