Committee advances $804,000 EPA grant request for lead testing and remediation in schools and child-care facilities

The Joint Committee of Education on May 13 voted to forward to the full committee a Department of Education request to apply for an $804,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formula grant to support lead testing and remediation in school and child-care water fixtures.

Wendy, who introduced the item for the department, said the state's apportionment is $804,000 and that the award is a non-competitive formula grant. Michael Elliott of the Oregon Department of Education said the funds would cover "not just water fountains. It will also be for any fixture used for drinking or food preparation," and that districts would be asked to prioritize buildings that serve children age 6 and younger.

The proposal would split the award between the Department of Education ($562,800) and the Department of Early Learning and Care ($241,200). Committee members noted the public-health stakes: Senator Frederick said lead exposure "has an impact" on children and their long-term brain development. The grant has no state match or maintenance-of-effort requirement, and the federal application deadline was stated as May 31.

A committee member moved to forward the request with the Legislative Fiscal Office recommendation; members raised no objection and the item was carried to the full committee for consideration. The committee recorded several members as excused for the meeting; no formal roll-call vote on the grant application was taken at the work session.

The discussion included requests for follow-up details: committee members asked for data on what percentage of districts have previously tested or remediated fixtures and were told that the agencies would provide that information later. The transcript shows the agencies committed to assist districts and to prioritize sites serving the youngest children.