The head of the U.S. department of Housing and Urban Development, Julian Castro, makes a stop in the Ocean State today. Castro is working to raise awareness of efforts to prevent lead poisoning.
Castro will join Senator Jack Reed on a tour of several homes in Providence, where federal funds have been used to clean up lead paint. The pair will also meet with housing officials and environmental advocates to discuss efforts to reduce lead exposure, especially among children.
Though the use of lead paint has been banned since the late 1970s, many children continue to be exposed to lead. The Rhode Island department of health estimates nearly 1,000 children will enter kindergarten in the state with elevated blood lead levels.
