Around mass incarceration and gun violence, raising wages and benefits for our families and keeping immigrant families together. Today you will hear from speakers from Pico National Network, a National Latina evangelical coalition, the 11th episcopal district of ame church in florida, the Ohio Baptist State Convention, religioureligious Action Centerf reform judaism, United Church of christ, bread for the world. You can follow the conversation today using the hashtag together we vote and would like you to know for president as they called an option and that will be listened only to respond, respond to email requests. Id like to begin. We had arranged a speakers today and coming from all of the country. Id like to begin with bishop who served as pico National Director political director. [applause] good afternoon. I am the political drug of the Pico National Network ecosystem providing bishop international. We have gathered today to lay out a plan for people of faith to engage in how they want to see this country develop in the years to come. The Pico National Network as network of 45 federations in 21 states made up of over 40 different religious traditions and over 200 cities and towns representing over 2 million families of africanamericans, latinos, Asian Pacific islander, white and native american descent. We believe every person of faith should exercise their right to vote as an act of faith in cocreating with the divine the beloved community that we all desire here on earth. As much as such the Pico National Network and allies will engage in the together we Vote Campaign to do the following. We are going to talk to 1 million voters, in particular those voters that have been ignored or not considered as relevant. Those that were low propensity voters who we know to the work we did in 2012 and 2014 if people reach out to them will actually come out and vote. We are going to train 15,000 volunteers and Leaders Within our federation, and allied organizations to go into the work of knocking on doors, of having phone conversations, meeting people at supermarkets and on the streets, in their congregations making sure that they vote the season. We will be working in 19 states. In some of the key states and the numbers were talking about in terms of turning out for this election, in ohio we will talk to 150,000 people. In florida we will talk to 50,000 people. In pennsylvania we will talk to 50,000 people. In indiana we will talk to any 1000 people. In colorado we will talk to 10,000 people. We are laying out a framework of Public Policy framework so that in 2017 these voters who we are talking with now will continue to engage the local, state and National Level on issues like paid family leave in the 15 an hour minimum wage. They will engage in ending predatory payday lending. They will work to close privately run immigrant Detention Centers that are Holding Families and supporting families in this country. We will work to withhold federal dollars from cities and states that refuse to hold Police Accountable for how they are treating like and brown bodies in this country. Together with our allies we seek to Work Together to unify a voice, to build to speak for this country in a way that builds up into a place where all cannot just barely survive but everyone can thrive. Think he very much. [applause] now i would like to introduce pastor Tracie Blackmon in christ the king church in missouri and also with United Church of christ. [applause] good afternoon. I consider my task for these few moments to be twofold. One, has become an of United Church of christ and latino that the United Church of christ is not a Political Organization but we do have the partisan affiliation because we care about what happens to the marginalized in our society. We believe that we have a theological mandate, that it is a biblical mandate to care for the least of these, the left out of these, the lost of these. Because of that extent we must vote our conscience, voting not necessarily along political lines where we are made up of republicans and democrats and independents, but voting along moral lines, voting about issues that will have a tremendous impact on those who are marginalized in our society. I also stand before you today on behalf of the moral movement of revival that is going across this nation led by dr. William barber who many of you saw as the Democratic Convention just a few days ago, reverend james ford from the Drum Major Institute also Pastor Emeritus from the riverside church, myself and Sister Simone from nuns on the bus. We have created a moral revival that is going throughout the nation to many states, including new york, North Carolina, georgia, alabama, texas, mississippi, ohio, pennsylvania, massachusetts, south carolina, wisconsin, missouri, washington, d. C. , tennessee, indiana, minnesota, new mexico, kentucky, virginia. Tonight we will be in boston, if the message is clear. We are coming to reclaim the biblical narrative, to snatch it out of the jobs of capitalism and partisanship come into place it squarely back where cheeses, that Palestinian Jew we follow jesus place in the biblical narrative. And that place is people who are marginalized at the center. We are suggesting that the theological mandate that those of us who follow jesus have is that we must care for the hungry. We must care for those who do not have shelter. We must care for those that others turned their backs on, that must be the center of our narrative. And everything we do from the poles to the pulpit to the pews must lie up on this accord. So we are suggesting that we must practice in this nation a Linguistic Liberation that separates, separates capitalistic ideals from language that appears to be faithful. We are suggesting that you are not right religiously based on political parties. But that you are right by following the mandates of scripture. We are suggesting that you cannot be faithful to the word of the lord without being faithful to those that the lord came to serve. Thank you. [applause] now let me invite pastor Michael Harrison who serves with the ohio organizing collaborative and the Ohio Baptist State Convention to tell us about the amazing work he is doing in ohio. [applause] thank you. For nearly a decade ive been privileged to lead one of ohios Largest Community organizations. It is a diverse alliance of faith groups, neighborhood organizations, and workers. This year in our response to the attack on voters rights it is our goal to register over 200,000 people in the state of ohio. And as of today we already registered 135,000. [applause] but registering them is not enough. We are going to turn it out to the polls this fall and beyond. It is our plan to knock on every voters adore at least three times. But we are not going to stop there. Were going to send each and every one of them an application for early voting. Not only that but we will call them several times as well as text them. Were going to chase every new registered voters to the polls your in total, theyre going to have over 125,000 conversations with new voters, new voters as well as those of the principe to vote this fall. Propensity. We will not been over 500,000 doors, and these new voters will be registered. These 200,000 voters are going to decide the election in ohio this fall. Because people cannot be denied their voice. We have been running programs to register and turn out voters ever since 2007, and we will continue to do so beyond 2016. This is not just won the election to it is about people of faith, regular everyday people having the power to control and delete in their own communities. We cant take elections off. We cannot be silent when the time comes we must that because there is an attack that has been lost by grants voters rights. It is our responsibility to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to express themselves at the ballot box. [applause] thank you, pastor harrison to know id like to invite the National Latino coalition. [applause] bouygues there is, good afternoon. My name is to say. Im representing a National Latino evangelical coalition the also a minister. We are here because we want the latino voice to be heard. Many families have been divided to many families have been deported, and, but one of the things we want to be heard is that many of these families that have been divided, their kids our citizens. They are coming of age and they are ready to vote. We are ready to register them. We are going out into the cities in florida and pennsylvania and registering them. We are moving and all these major cities. And we have been mobilizing the congregations right after the Worship Services and registering all the families. We are doing it now in the d. C. Metro area and we are starting to do this in all the other major cities. One of the things we want everyone to understand is that we want everyones voice to be heard. We want our people to be heard and we want our families to be kept together. So the organization is not standing there we are moving because family comes first. So we are here to stand, we are standing on the gap ready to get the voice heard and ready to get the vote out. Thank you. [applause] thank you. Now i would like to invite be shown Adam Richardson junior with 11 episcopal district of African Methodist Episcopal Church in florida. [applause] im representing the ame church celebrating 200 years this year of Civic Engagement beginning with our founder whose lapel pin i show here today represented on before ever staff. Civic engagement has been what we are about. In florida we are aligned with faith in florida, that we take the lead in coordinating an early voting, that will deliver 100,000 africanamerican voters in nine counties. This engagement of 725 churches across denominational lines. We will count our participation through individual churches, commitment cards from voters at each congregation, and not by the congregation they signed up. But counties will consist of miamidade, broward, hillsboro, duvall, orange, seminole, leon, all seal and st. Lucie. Faith in florida has a formal partnership with agreement with the ame church in the 11th district in florida. One of the strong africanamerican denominations in the state. A minimum of 60 congregations and 69 cities can each with a trained volunteer will team out and reach out on the phone, knocking on doors to low propensity africanamerican voters in precincts close to their congregational sites. The program will collectively engage 50,000 conversations in the seventh of forementioned counties. Our goal is to keep each conversation congregation to 100 voting congregations by the november election day. Faith in Florida Action Fund will partner with local organizations to educate africanamerican and letting the electorates about the powers of the state attorney. Concretely the discretion that they have that significantly impact their most pressing racial criminal justice issues. Together, the organization will contact 45,000 voters, knocking on doors and ringing telephones. Moving 10 of the likely turnout based on an average turnout in countywide races during previous president ial election years. In addition to the program, this partnership will pay for newspaper and radio ads that lift up the importance of Estate Attorneys raise, and organize one candidate for him to for the lift the profile of these elections. And so we are on the case. Florida is on the case. Florida is on the case. [applause] id like an invite Barbara Weinstein who will be talking to us from the religious Action Center of reform judaism. [applause] good afternoon. I am here on behalf of the religious Action Center and the commission of social action of reform judaism and we are the largest the nomination in north American Jewish life. Like all of my friends and colleagues gathered here this afternoon, we have a deep and abiding belief in the holiness of every individuaindividua l. And an understanding of the power and strength that exists when we come together as individuals and we form a community. But we know as well theres been a systematic silencing of individual and communal voices at the ballot box. In the form of closed polling stations, limitations on early voting, and owners voter id laws. That brings us tremendous pain as a test i going here today. But we feel and particularly i could form of that pain because we know that the Voting Rights act itself was drafted in large part in our Historic Building here in washington, d. C. We take tremendous pride in that history. But our commitment to the rights is something thats just a historic one. Its something we engage in today with a deep meaning and the purpose. And so later this month we are proudly launching a program called which in hebrew means we are standing together. We are standing together in a nonpartisan voter registration, Voter Engagement and Voter Protection initiative thats going to carry us from august all the way through election day. We are launching this later this month in North Carolina which has been so many ways on the front lines when it comes to voter issues that have afflicted communities across this country. We are doing it as well as a community in partnership with other communities, many of which are here today with pico, the naacp, with the Lawyers Committee. We are doing that because the great stage cannot separate yourself from the community. We chose that phrase, that word because its the word that appears in a portion of the bible where moses out of the community together, all members of the committee, young and old, rich and poor, people of different classes and status in skin color, everyone had a place within the community. Everyone today must have a place within our National Committee what comes to the right to vote. Those are fundamental values that we have as jews, as people of faith, and as americans. We are proud to be part of this initiative today. Thank you very much. [applause] thank you. Next we have lisa sharon harper. [applause] in matthew 25, jesus said what you did to the least of these you have done to me. Now, the least of these sorry, Nicholas Walters to actually call them the quartet of the vulnerable. The quartet of affordable included the widow, the orphan, the poor and immigrant. Why we jesus care about the least of these . Jesus just because the least of these are made in the image of god just like any other human being within her borders or in our world. Those making the image of god are called by god and created by god with capacity according to the scriptures to exercise demeaning comment exercised stewardship over our world. But Voter Suppression laws and policies negate and deny human beings their divine call and write to exercised stewardship. Now, the aclu reported in january this year that can states will be put into practice this year suppression laws in 2016. The Fourth Circuit this last month declared North Carolinas suppression law is unconstitutional. It targets the least of these. For other states had their Voter Suppression laws struck down in july. Yet we see that new tactics are being born by places by the locations and districts all over the country. Just today i believe were yesterday the New York Times reported that in different Districts Police officers are now being used in order to intimidate voters and challenge their capacity to vote. We say that they are made in the image of god, if they are citizens they have the right to vote. And so sojourners is launching the witness of the vote project at its called on churches and faith communities to show up at the polls on election day, and especially we are targeting by specific states, ohio, florida, pennsylvania, North Carolina and michigan. These are states were Voter Suppression laws have made it and policies, have made it a very tenuous place for people who are vulnerable in those populations. We are encouraging churches to engage in Community Spirit at the polls. Stand in solidarity with the least of these. Bear witness to Voter Suppression efforts in precinct across the country. The partners we are working with include pico, the Lawyers Committee for civil rights, the advancement project, the brennan center, pico, we resent that, and the Friends Committee on national legislation. We will also be putting together webinars that trained churches and clergy in how to bear witness at the polls, and effort of Voter Protection. Finally, we will show up. We will show up on november 8, and churches will love the least of these as the exercise dominions. Jesus said what you do to the least of these you do unto me. Voter suppression laws have targeted the least of these. The church is rising up and is marching with the least of these to the polls in order to make sure that the vulnerable have their godgiven right to exercised stewardship on november 8. Amen. [applause] thank you. Now i would like to invite reverend doctor Lindsey Comstock was one of the directors with convergence. [applause] today i am here on behalf of convergence and the we stand with love campaign. Convergence is a growing network of over 10,000 of faith communities, including forward leaning catholics, progressive evangelicals and mainline protestants alongside peace and ethnic churches. Working together as a Movement Building collaborative, to heal the human spirit, foster a pundit lies and seek the common good. Convergence is proud to be a Founding Partner and sponsor of the we stand with love campaign, a multifaceted, multiphase messaging campaign launching september 1 in response to the hateful and violent rhetoric that has dominated this election season. We stand with love puts people with courageous, constructive and creative responses to the divisive and destructive messaging we year. Our website provides teammates of content including small group studies, lebanese, prayers, music playlist, movie trailers, et cetera to assist those passionate about transforming the public narrative this election season into one that points towards love of self, love of neighbor and love of community. In partnership with the pico network, seven days of content will focus on how bad votes. Sherry multi on a local show up at the polls this november and can influence the policy and legislation affecting our elders of our children and vulnerable minority people groups. We invite you to add your voice of love at we stand with love. Org. Thank you. [applause] thank you. So the less speaker before i opened it up for two and a is from bread for the world. [applause] thank you very much. Im the director of organizing a grassroots Capacity Building for bread for the world the bread for the world is a National Christian organization that targets laws that impact folks to begin with hunger and poverty. This year we made the decision to launch a campaign where we are encouraging out 80,000 Member Networks to engage congressional and president ial candidates to get in front of them, to ask the question what would you do to end hunger and poverty here and around the world . Wants to ask the question we want to listen and see what they say. Ask them how are you publicizing this . How are you talking about a . Is a part of the talking points . Most important were asking them to commit to meet with us 30 days after the election. Regardless of who wins we are getting in front of the candidates in building relationships. What excites me and bread for the world so much about this work is that voting is christian stewardship. It is christian stewardship. For some of us its about living out our faith and witnessing what does it mean to love the good news of jesus christ. For other folks its a calling. We are supposed to do this. We are compelled. We are excited to be in concert with our brothers and sisters and serving up a fine the issues we are caring about. In addition to engaging our 80,000 member network, we have also launched a marketing effort that has touched 60 million folks around elections this year. We are targeting 10 states where were going deep and working with activists to get in front of those members of congress and amplify what they say. Those states include florida, ohio, pennsylvania you will see a theme going on here, right . Thats happening, which is great. The other work we are excited about doing it is also in concert with upcoming webinars where we are educating people on the issues how to get in front of the candidates, hatteberg dog in town halls. Were also having come we have a rigorous social media campaign. Last but not least were certainly excited to work with brothers and sisters that are registering people to vote to get out the vote, to get it for folks to make sure they get to the polls. Incidentally, we are a National Hunger or decision we are clear about looking at the systemic issues that cause poverty and hunger. The issues were working on around him includes immigration, mass. Preservation includes vital nutrition programs. Our members by getting a foot of those, those candidates and bring up those issues. Bread for the world is excited to be a continued be in partnership with brothers and sisters around the country. Thank you. [applause] okay, great. So now we want to open it up for questions. [inaudible] spent i was wondering if you could compare the two previous seasons at how you all are sort of not going to step on each other . Unaware of other groups, particularly some of the africanamerican denominations that are putting things like this. How are you going to not end up having the same people doors getting knocked on . Thank you for that question. I think one can there are over 300 people in this country. We have identified 1 million folks in member states, 19 states where the Pico National Network campaigned. Two things. One, we are targeting voters that you get ignored that we are talking to those people that my vote in 2012, havent voted since then, people who are newly registered voters we will be having conversations with them. If other folk knock on their doors, all the better. We have learned that the more people are talked to, the more inclined they will be to get out to vote. The third thing is, we are stand here together the theres 15 different organizations have come together to talk about this is how we will Work Together. We hope i know means this is the end but that more and more others will come in and that welwill be helping coordinate h each other how were going to reach out to marginalize those have been dispossessed and oppressed in this country to walk with him, to stand with them, to vote with them, but didnt have a collective say in their destiny together. So we dont really see competition. We see opportunity for collaboration. We think that while were trying to move 1 million voters, if there are other positions kind of move 1 million voters, the more voters we move, the better off our country will be. Thank you. [applause] other questions . So we have no other questions . We will go ahead and close up. So id like to invite rabbi wasserman from power metric in philadelphia to offer us a closing reflection. [applause] on rabbi wasserman, representing the greater philadelphia area, the part of power metric i will start with a short hebrew lesson come in hebrew the word for voice is the same as the word for vote. Our saying, the voice of rejoicing in salvation is in the 10th of the righteous. The voice of rejoicing or the boat of rejoicing. We have come together today, a white tent, attend with flaps open to people across religious lines across racial lines, across geographic lines, states across the country. Weve come together, people of faith, race to raise our voice and to say voting is a religious value. It is a value of community of faith because our voices matter. All of our voices matter. When we use our voices, when we vote, we are affirming the voices, the stories, the experiences of every person created in the image of god. Today we celebrate a white tent of racist people coming together in love, in anger, and devotion to our religious values of justice for all people. We come together to affirm the dignity of everyone. Let us ensure that every voice is honored with a vote. Sometimes it is brash and angry voices that ring out louder than voices of prayer, than voices of praise, than voices of thanks, than voices of humility, that calls for justice. We need to make our voices of faith, our voices of compassion, our voices of love loud. We are many. We are not always listen to that this year we will be. Through our voices, through our votes. Me with open the gates of righteousness, the gates of compassion, the gates of love. Me we opened them wide. Amen. Enn. Amen. [applause] think it is going for coming, for joining us. Had a nice afternoon. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] you can see this if it again starting later today on cspan. Org. Earlier today president obama and the Prime Minister of singapore held a News Conference in which the president commented about donald trump. Thank you, mr. President. Given the republican nominees recent comments about the con them into statement if president would consider recognizing russias annexation of crimea does it make you question his fitness to be president . Secondly on libya, youve said in the past that the worst mistake of the presidency may have been a failure to plan for the aftermath of the 2011 nato intervention in libya. You see any decision to bomb i says a direct result of that . Yes, i think the republican nominee is unfit to serve as president. I said so last week, and he keeps on putting it. The notion that he would attack a gold star family that had made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesnt appear to have basic knowledge around Critical Issues in europe, in the middle east, in asia means that he is woefully unprepared to do this job. And this is not just my opinion. I think whats been interesting is the repeated denunciations of his statements by leading republicans, including the speaker of the house and the Senate Majority leader, and prominent republicans like john mccain. And the question i think that they have to ask themselves is, if you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptab unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him . What does it say about your party that this is your standard bearer . This isnt a situation where you have an episodic gaffe. This is daily and weekly where they are distancing themselves from statements peacemaking. There has to be a point in which you say, this is not somebody i can support for president of the united states. Even if he purports to be a member of my party. And the fact that that has not yet happened makes some of these pronunciations ring hollow. I dont doubt their sincerity. I dont doubt that they were outraged about some of the statements that mr. Trump and his supporters made about the khan family. But there has to come a point at which you say somebody who makes those kinds of statements doesnt have the judgment, the temperament, the understanding to occupy the most powerful position in the world. Because a lot of people depend on the white house getting stuff right. And this is different than just having policy disagreements. I recognize that they all profoundly disagree with myself or Hillary Clinton on tax policy or on certain elements of foreign policy, but you know, thereve been republican president s with whom i disagreed with but i didnt have a doubt that they could function as president. I think i was right in mitt romney and john mccain for vote on certain policy issues but i never got that they couldnt do the job. And had they won, i wouldve been disappointed but i would have said to all americans, this is our president , and i know theyre going to abide by certain norms and rules, commonsense. They will observe basic decency your they will have enough knowledge about Economic Policy and foreign policy, and our constitutional traditions and rules law that our government will work. And then we will compete for years from now to try to win an election. But thats not the situation here. Thats not just my opinion. That is the opinion of many prominent republicans. There has to come a point in which you say enough. And the alternative is that the entire party of the Republican Party effectively endorses and validates the positions that are being articulated by mr. Trump is as i said in my speech last week, i dont think that actually represents the views of a whole lot of republicans out there. Today on q a, Aviva Kempner talks about her documentary on the life of american businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald who was best known as part owner and leader of the Sears Roebuck and company. Thats at 7 p. M. Eastern. Tonight on booktv, Summer Reading picks starting at 8 p. M. All this tonight on booktv prime time on cspan2. Last month housing and urban Development SecretaryJulian Castro announced the administration is releasing over 52 million in grants to read low income homes of lead. Its part of his departments initiative aimed at improving health and well being of children living in impoverished areas. The center for American Progress hosted this event in washington, d. C. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the center for American Progress. My name is neera tanden and im really pleased that you are all here for todays discussion. Over the last few much of the flood water crisis strong the nations attention to the devastating impact of lead poisoning. As an independent task force concluded in march, the flood crisis is a tragic and shameful case of environmental injustice. Unfortunately, this environmental injustice is widespread especially among low income committees. Roughly 23 million Housing Units in the u. S. Has more than more than 535,000 children are effected each year. Let me say that again. 535,000 children are effected by lead poisoning. This crisis disproportional effects children of color. A study by the cdc and prevention determine 11. 2 of africanamerican children are poisoned by lead compared with 2. 3 of white children. These families need action, they deserve justice, they deserve Environmental Justice and today c. A. P. Is releasing a report addressing the effects of longterm Health Effects and Economic Impacts of under investing in low income communities. The report makes recommendations to federal policymakers and how to ensure lowincome families living in environmental content environments conducive greater funding for efforts to fight the lead poisoning and increase investments in Community BasedViolence Reduction programs. Going forward we need to ensure that our leaders take a comprehensive approach to promote safety and health and fiber, healthy advice for all american families. No matter what their zip code. It is really my great privilege to introduce someone who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of lowincome families, secretary of housing and urban development Julian Castro. Secretary castro likes to call hud the department of opportunity which makes him the secretary of opportunity and over the last few years i know hes earned that title. Under secretary castros leadership hud this expand opportunities for millions of families for providing Broadband Access for more lowincome households to eliminating barriers for business due to the administration programs. Following secretary castros remarks we will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss best practices for leadfree homes and provide insights on how leaders across sectors can Work Together to ensure that every child lives in a safe and healthy community. Artist in which else in this minneapolis mayor betsy hodges, president and ceo of green and Healthy Homes initiatives Ruth Ann Norton and managing director of health and Human Services program, the kresge foundation, David Fukuzawa beadwork senator from all of them this afternoon the first it is my late great pleasure to welcome secretary castro to the stage. He is a great friend of the center and we are honored to have him. [applause] good afternoon everyone. First of all, thank you very much, near, for hosting us today and for the kind introduction and perhaps most importantly for the fantastic and impactful work that you and your great staff here at c. A. P. Do each and every day that is in the interest of americans of every background. Lets thank c. A. P. For there great leadership, and you. [applause] i also want to graduate you on releasing this new study. I look forward to reading it but i know it highlights our nations urgent need to build safer and healthier communities for all americans. I also want to thank each of my fellow panelists for being here today. I look for to a good conversation on the issue of how we can ensure that no matter where a young person lives, but to live and a healthy home. I want to recognize and thank Ruth Ann Norton, a longtime partner of hud. Im so happy she could join us this afternoon. As well as mayor betsy hodges from one of the best cities in the united states, minneapolis. Thank you for your leadership on these issues. Ever everything that you were doing in minneapolis and nationwide for so many people. I want to acknowledge and thank David Fukuzawa for everything that he is doing to improve the lives of underserved youth. Thank you, dave, for your to finally to everybody here. I know yall share a passion and commitment to this work. I want you to know that hud is proud to join you in achieving this mission. As neera mentioned, we call ourselves the department of opportunity. Because housing can serve as a powerful platform to spark greater progress in peoples lives. We also know that good health is a vital part of someones ability to seize any opportunity that comes along. Every child in america deserves the chance to grow up in a safe and healthy home. So were focused on eliminating one of the biggest threats facing children in hudassisted housing. Last month, we announced a series of bold new steps that will protect more young people from the dangers of leadbased paint. We call them our leadsafe homes, leadfree kids toolkit, and id like to take a few moments to discuss some of the changes were making. First, were improving how we identify and control lead hazards. Were taking steps to align our lead safe housing rule with the guidelines set forth by the cdc, a measure that should expand protections for nearly 7,000 children. And were working to develop a consistent standard for Water Quality across all hudsupported properties. Second, were looking at the effectiveness of our current leadpoison prevention policies, and were comingup with new strategies to improve them going forward. Third, were strengthening our Home Inspection process, and steppingup enforcement against those who break our lead safety rules and endanger young children. Fourth, were joining forces with leaders across the public and private sectors to connect more hudassisted residents with resources that protect them from exposure to lead. This includes working with local Health Departments to help make free bloodlead level Testing Available to every child under the age of six who lives in a hudsupported home. And earlier today, we launched a new partnership with the National League of cities, one that will lift up the innovative work of local leaders across the nation who are making their communities safer and healthier. Finally, as we push to protect more americans from the dangers of lead, well also remember that the fight doesnt stop there. Well keepup our commitment to removing other toxic substances found in our nations homes like radon, carbon monoxide, and mold. Also have a detrimental impact to the health of our nations families. So today, im proud to announce that were releasing more than 52 million in grants that will help eliminate lead and other hazards from nearly 3,000 lowincome households. [applause] these Investments Continue the great work of our office of lead hazard control and Healthy Homes, which since 1993 has served nearly 200,000 households through its Grant Programs alone. I would want to thank our staff from the office. Im not sure if michelle is here. That you youre very much. Lets give it a big round of applause, all of our staff. [applause] as we begin our discussion, i want to promise you that our team will not stop working until all children in hud support housing have the chance to go into safe and secure home. A home that lays the foundation for their health, their happiness, and their future success. We know its a mission that we cant accomplish without your so great work and the work with some reporters. Well the need the continued support and partnership of everyone in this room. Folks dedicated to making our nation safer and healthier than ever, and doing that one family, one neighborhood, one community at a time. So its an honor to join you for this important conversation and i look forward to hearing from you. Thank you. [applause] they said get in the middle, get in the chair in the middle. I take direction well. Thank you so much for your remarks, secretary castro. Im going to start out with you and then would love for the panel to join. When we think about the problems of lead, i would love to get your sense of why in the year 2016 we still have this problem. It was a wakeup call to see the headlines around flint, michigan, you know, where we had a community that really feels like its something out of 50 years ago that you would actually have water so contaminated. So just love to get your perspective, and invite other folks on the panel after you, why do we continue to have this challenge . Why i we sing the levels of disinvestment . How does this happen . And what can we hud is take as much action as it can but what else can be done in the country . Thank you again for having all of us for this important conversation. Youre right, i think when we heard about what happened in flint, that the reaction of most folks was this is 2016, why is thiit still happening . Of course that was a particular case and bad decisions that were made that i think in the state that exacerbated the challenge of there. But the fact is, anybody up here can tell you, that one of the Biggest Challenges we have is lead in paint in homes still today. And why do we have that . Well, different reasons. One of those is that we have a whole bunch of homes out there that still have that lead based paint in them. The resources have not been dedicated over time to remediate nearly the number of units that we need to remediate in the united states. Its often the case that folks are living in low income communities that oftentimes theyre aware of the problem or they are aware but theyre not just able to go and we mediate the problem themselves. So the need assistance in doing that. Thats the challenge that we still have a very strong need for investment in resources. The good news is about over the years we have gotten better about trying to be responsive in the nonprofit sector, in the public sector, through partnerships with the private sector as well. I mentioned in my remarks, for instance, since 1992 or 1993 office of lead hazard control and Healthy Homes has been making important investments that go into private housing in low income communities and help them we mediate those lead hazards and other Health Hazards in their homes. I would love your view on the topic with your orientation is one of the leading organizations addressing the issue of lead and throughout the country in houses and elsewhere so give us a sense of how pervasive the challenge is