NEW: Rep. Handy Honored by Childhood Lead Action Project
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The Childhood Lead Action Project has honored Rep. Arthur Handy as its Legislator of the Year.
According to Childhood Lead Action Project Executive Director Roberta Hazen Aaronson, the organization selected Representative Handy for the award for his longtime support for efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning, including his work this year to push for restoration of federal funding for lead poisoning prevention.
Aaronson cited Representative Handy’s “longstanding commitment to the elimination of childhood lead poisoning clearly demonstrated this year by (his) resourcefulness, persistence and ingenuity” in pushing for both awareness of and a solution to the loss of federal funding for the state’s lead-poisoning prevention program.
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He has also initiated other efforts aimed at reducing Rhode Islanders’ exposure to lead paint, including the income tax credit for removing or controlling lead paint in residential housing units.
“Rhode Island has come a long way in reducing the number of children with elevated levels of lead in their bodies as a result of the very effective education and prevention program we have. I’m proud to stand with the Childhood Lead Action Project 100 percent, because its efforts, alongside the state’s, have been very effective at reducing the number of children who suffer the devastating, lifelong effects of lead poisoning. I will continue to be an advocate for lead poisoning prevention, because the risk lead poisoning poses to Rhode Island children is still very, very high, and all children need and deserve protection,” said Representative Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston).
