Gabriella Celeste, co-founder of the Ohio Lead Free Kids Coalition and Policy Director at the Schubert Center for Child Studies, testified before the Ohio Senate Health Committee as an Interested Party on Sub. HB 96. She expressed grave concern over drastic budget cuts to Ohio鈥檚 child lead poisoning prevention programs, which were reduced from over $8 million to just $250,000 annually in the House-passed version of the bill.
Celeste urged legislators to restore full funding for lead abatement and the Lead Safe Home Fund, emphasizing that thousands of Ohio children, especially those living in aging housing stock, remain at risk of irreversible harm from lead exposure. She highlighted that while prior investments made progress, over 200 families remain on waitlists for hazard control services. "All Ohio children deserve to be lead-free," she said, calling for continued public commitment to primary prevention.