NEWARK, N.J. – United States Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) issued the following statement today in response to the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to test a number of the homes of those children exposed to mercury at the Kiddie Kollege day care in Franklin, Township.

Earlier this week, Lautenberg called on the regional Director of EPA and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to test the homes of families and expand the testing and monitoring of children who were exposed to mercury while attending the day care.

"While I am pleased that the EPA responded to my request to test these homes, their proposal simply does not go far enough and keeps over half the families in the dark about the safety of their home. This is unacceptable.

I strongly believe that every family that sent their children to Kiddie Kollege has the right to have their homes tested to make sure that mercury has not been tracked into their house.

I urge EPA to reconsider its decision and will call upon EPA Administrator Steve Johnson to get personally involved in this case," said Senator Lautenberg.

Senator Lautenberg will call EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson to urge him to reverse this decision, and include all the families in any testing and monitoring that will take place.