An Act to amend the Lead Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act, and for other purposes.
Public Law 93-151 · S. 607 · 93rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Nov 9, 1973 · Health
Sponsor: Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Cosponsors (32): Sen. Edward Brooke, Sen. Thomas Eagleton,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Extends the eligibility of those to whom grants may be made, under the Lead Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act, to include private non-profit organizations in any State.
Increases the percentage level for which grants under such Act may fund the cost of developing and carrying out local programs.
Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare to make grants to State agencies to establish centralized laboratory facilties for such programs.
Requires that local programs include developing procedures to remove lead based paint from surfaces which create a high risk of health for children.
Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in consultation with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, to develop and carry out a demonstration and research program to determine the nature and extent of the problem of lead based paint poisoning in the United States, particularly in urban areas, including the methods by which the lead based paint hazard can most effectively be removed from interior surfaces, porches, and exterior surfaces of residential housing to which children may be exposed.
Directs the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission to conduct appropriate research on multiple layers of dried paint film, containing the various lead compounds commonly used, in order to ascertain the safe level of lead in residential paint products.
States that no later than December 31, 1974, the Chairman shall submit to Congress a full and complete report of his findings and recommendations as developed pursuant to such programs, together with a statement of any legislation which should be enacted or any changes in existing law.
Grants the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development authority to establish procedures to eliminate the hazards of lead poisoning in housing covered by the Department's mortgage assistance or its housing assistance payments.
Provides for the prohibition of the use of lead based paints in the construction of federally assisted facilities and of its application to certain toys and utensils.
States that the term 'lead based paint' means: (1) prior to December 31, 1974, any paint containing more than five-tenths of 1 percent lead by weight; and (2) after December 31, 1974, any paint containing more than six one-hundredths of 1 percent lead by weight.
Authorizes appropriations to carry out the Act through June 30, 1975.
Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to establish a National Childhood Lead Based Paint Poisoning Advisory Board to advise the Secretary on policy relating to the administration of this Act.
Provides that the members of the Board shall include residents of communities and neighborhoods affected by lead based paint poisoning.
Declares that it is the intent of the Congress to supersede any and all laws of the States and units of local government insofar as they may now or hereafter provide for a requirement, prohibition, or standard relating to the lead content in paints or other similar surface-coating materials which differs from the provisions of this Act or regulations issued pursuant to this Act. States that any law, regulation, or ordinance purporting to establish such different requirement, prohibition, or standard shall be null and void.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.
- Nov 9, 1973Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-151.
- Oct 30, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 24, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Oct 16, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Sep 25, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-522.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-522.
- Sep 18, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Sep 6, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Sep 5, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended in lieu of H.R. 8920.
- May 10, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Financial Services Committee
- May 9, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Apr 27, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Jan 29, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.