DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND HEALTH, EDUCATION, HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE ON DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE APPROPRIATIONS 78-021 O Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1972 COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS GEORGE H. MAHON, Texas, Chairman JAMIE L. WHITTEN, Mississippi EDWARD P. BOLAND, Massachusetts GEORGE E. SHIPLEY, Illinois NEAL SMITH, Iowa ROBERT N. GIAIMO, Connecticut BOB CASEY, Texas DAVID PRYOR, Arkansas FRANK E. EVANS, Colorado DAVID R. OBEY, Wisconsin EDWARD R. ROYBAL, California WILLIAM D. HATHAWAY, Maine NICK GALIFIANAKIS, North Carolina LOUIS STOKES, Ohio J. EDWARD ROUSH, Indiana K. GUNN MCKAY, Utah TOM BEVILL, Alabama FRANK T. BOW, Ohio CHARLES R. JONAS, North Carolina J. KENNETH ROBINSON, Virginia NOTE. This Surveys and Investigations supervisory staff is supplemented by selected personnel borrowed on a reimbursable basis for varying lengths of time from various agencies to staff up specific studies and investigations. The current average annual fulltime personnel equivalent is approximately 42. GERARD J. CHOUINARD JANET LOU DAMERON BEATRICE T. DEW PAUL V. FARMER DANIEL V. GUN SHOWS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT LAWRENCE C. MILLER (II) FRANCIS W. SADY MARY ALICE SAUER DALE M. SHULAW AUSTIN G. SMITH RANDOLPH THOMAS DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1973 TESTIMONY OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS HON. WILLIAM F. RYAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK Mr. FLOOD. The committee will come to order. We now have the pleasure of hearing what we refer to as our public witnesses as distinguished from what we call "government" witnesses. Who would be better qualified to speak for the public than the distinguished gentleman from New York, Hon. William F. Ryan of the 20th District of the great State of New York. Mr. RYAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I greatly appreciate this opportunity to testify once again before this distinguished subcommittee on the necessity of mounting a fullscale Federal assault on the devastating disease of childhood lead poisoning. Sometimes it is called the silent epidemic; sometimes it is called ghetto malaria. But no matter what it goes by, the fact remains that childhood lead poisoning continues needlessly to plague the children of America. Each year thousands of young children between the ages of 1 and 6 are afflicted by this dread disease. The exact number of youngsters poisoned is unknown, for there are still far too few programs to screen children for lead poisoning. Even so, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has estimated that each year some 400,000 children are subjected to lead-based paint poisoning. As a result, some 16,000 youngsters require treatment. An additional 3,200 suffer moderate to severe brain damage. And 800 are so severely afflicted that they require institutionalization for the remainder of their lives. And for another 200 children there is no future at all-not even the tragic existence of permanent institutionalization-for they will die as a result of this vicious crippler of young children. Two hundred children a year. (1) |