More than $6 million in federal funding will go to Broome County to remove lead paint hazards from hundreds of homes, U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Tuesday.

The money comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program and will support efforts for remediation of lead-based paint hazards in at least 180 qualifying privately-owned homes built before 1978 in the city of Binghamton, town of Union, village of Johnson City and village of Endicott.

“No amount of toxic lead exposure is safe for the children of Binghamton and Broome County, and today I am proud to announce we have secured $6.3 million for Broome County to remove lead paint from homes to protect our children and public health,” Schumer said in a statement. “Lead poisoning is an irreversible, preventable tragedy that robs many families and children of their future. This major federal funding is the shot in the arm that Broome County needs to boost lead paint removal and prevention and protect the health and safety of families across the Southern Tier.”

The senators say lead exposure is a particularly pressing issue for Broome County, especially in structures built before lead paint was banned in 1978, as it was frequently used in homes and apartments.

“Broome County is proud to continue our work with HUD on low-income housing to mitigate or reduce lead-based paint hazards. The health and safety of our families and children in Broome County is always a top priority,” Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said in a statement. “I want to congratulate our Health Department Director Mary McFadden and her staff for their hard work and dedication in working to secure this grant for Broome County."