It's shocking that lead poisoning is still a problem in our homes, but it is. More than 700 Minnesota children are poisoned every year and there are nearly four-hundred thousand currently occupied rental units built before 1978: and likely to have lead paint.

This is unacceptable. Not only are we harming our kids, but we are hurting ourselves in the pocket-book too. It costs tax-payers $100,000 a year to care for a child for lead poisoning: for the rest of her life! It's so much cheaper, and better for our kids to pay upfront the cost of making our homes lead safe.

Rally for Science 2018 speaker Ticiea Fletcher has been a tireless campaigner for The Dustin Luke Shields Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. It would:

• Create pilot programs to pay for 100% of lead testing costs.
• Require disclosure of lead or any potential lead hazards for homes and apartments built before 1978.
• Provide a 75% tax credit up to $5,000 to make a unit lead safe.

Contact your state senators and representatives and tell them to make sure the Dustin Luke Shields Act gets a hearing in committee and gets passed and signed into law!