In 1991, Congress turned its attention to growing concerns about childhood lead poisoning. With the enactment of The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, the Federal Government recognized modern scientific knowledge that childhood lead poisoning was ubiquitous in America, caused primarily by lead-based paint hazards, and preventable. Laws enacted in the early 1970s mandating that the Federal government eliminate lead-based paint hazards as far as practical in federally-owned, -assisted, and -insured housing had not significantly dealt with this national health crisis. The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act was passed by Congress to address these issues.
As a part of the Act, in 1991, the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (HHLHC) was established by HUD in order to bring together health and housing professionals in a concerted effort to eliminate lead-based paint hazards in America’s privately-owned and low-income housing. The OHHLC is unique among federal agencies dealing with lead-hazards, as the Office is staffed to bring lead health science to bear directly upon America’s housing.