LaHood introduces House bill establishing tax credit to help property owners combat lead poisoning  

[DEC. 16, 2005]  WASHINGTON -- During the first days back in session after the House adjourned for the Thanksgiving recess, U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, introduced legislation that would provide a tax credit to property owners as an impetus to remove lead-based paint hazards in homes and apartments. LaHood's legislation, co-sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., is a companion to a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate last month by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

"This is a serious health issue for all Peorians," LaHood said, "but it is especially acute for the most vulnerable in our community -- our children. We must find a way to protect our children from lead poisoning, and we must find solutions for property owners to safely mitigate this problem. That is why I am introducing this legislation, and that is why I have worked with both the city of Peoria and Peoria County over the past several years to find a solution. I will continue this work until we find a solution and make our children safe from lead poisoning."

Over the past several years, LaHood's office has worked closely with city of Peoria and the Peoria City/County Health Department to address the issue of lead poisoning, especially the high rates of poisoning in the area's children. During this time, LaHood has advocated that grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development be awarded to the community to combat the problem, and he has contacted HUD in support of grant funds each of the past three years. In a June 19, 2004, letter to the agency, LaHood told HUD that the "lead-based paint problem must be a priority." Earlier this year, when it was discovered that the Peoria Health Department's grant application had not been submitted properly, LaHood requested that HUD give "extraordinary consideration" to the circumstances because of the severity of Peoria's lead paint issue.

Under LaHood's bill, property owners could claim a credit on their tax returns for 50 percent of their costs for work done to abate lead on their property. The maximum credit would be $3,000 for lead abatement and $1,000 for interim control measures. In an attempt to tackle the problem where is it most prevalent, the credit is geared toward properties that have children younger than 6 years of age, women of child-bearing age, low-income residents and buildings built before 1960.

[News release from Rep. Ray LaHood,
18th Congressional District]

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