Castro releases plan to eliminate lead poisoning

Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro released a first-of-its-kind plan Monday to eliminate lead poisoning in the U.S.

The plan, which weaves together executive and congressional action and involves state and local authorities and private entities, comes on the heels of the former San Antonio mayor's visit this past weekend to Flint, Mich., which saw its water supply contaminated with lead and other toxins in 2014.

"Five years after the beginning of the water crisis, and some residents still don't have access to clean water -- or don't trust those who tell them the water is safe to drink or bathe their kids in," Castro said in a written statement. "Today I'm 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."

According to the plan, Castro would convene a presidential taskforce to eliminate lead poisoning as a public health threat and coordinate action from various government agencies, work with Congress to allocate $5 billion a year for 10 years to remove lead in paint and soil, replace lead pipes in high-need areas, and spend an additional $100 million a year for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at the federal Centers for Disease Control.

Castro's plan also would require all homes and buildings constructed before 1978 to undergo lead risk-assessments and testing, remediate lead risks in all government-owned buildings and implement consistent lead exposure standards across the federal government.

In terms of addressing children's exposure to lead, the plan would call for blood lead level testing for children younger than 2, health insurance coverage of lead poisoning interventions for children and other support services for affected children and families.

Finally, the plan would allow for federal funds to be used for hybrid disasters -- those caused by natural and human factors -- like the Flint water crisis and ensure that relevant governmental agencies were sharing information and risk assessments to better prepare for future disasters.

Castro held a town hall with Flint residents on Saturday.

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