Lieberman, Blumenthal Announce over $5 Million to Protect Connecticut Residents from Lead Poisoning

WASHINGTON, DC -- Senators Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) announced today that nearly $5.5 million in federal funds had been released to protect Connecticut families from lead poisoning.  The grants were awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control and will be disbursed to the State of Connecticut and the City of Waterbury.  

The Connecticut Department of Social Services will receive $3 million to, in partnership with the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, administer an early intervention and prevention program to reduce lead hazards for young children from low-income families.  This initiative will remove lead hazards from 250 homes throughout the state.   Waterbury was awarded just under $2.5 million to evaluate lead hazards in 180 homes and eliminate lead paint from 173 homes.  

“It is unacceptable that some children in Connecticut continue to live in homes with dangerously high levels of lead paint,” Lieberman said.  “I am pleased that both of these initiatives received funding, which will go a long way toward removing this hazard from Connecticut homes and ensuring that more Connecticut families can live in a safe and healthy environment.”

“Children and families deserve to live in healthy homes free from the damaging effects of lead poisoning,” Blumenthal said.  “These grants will provide much-needed assistance to Connecticut to reduce and eliminate lead hazards in hundreds of homes across the state, and safeguard both the immediate and long-term health of Connecticut residents.”   

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