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Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues who are demanding action for the families in Flint, Michigan. First, I want to acknowledge many Members of the Michigan delegation, led by Flint's Representative, Congressman Dan Kildee, who are fighting every day to bring justice to these families. Their work is essential to ensuring the people of Flint have the resources that they need to recover.

Mr. Speaker, the situation in Flint is nothing short of a tragedy, and a tragedy that could have been prevented. Michigan State officials sacrificed the health and futures of Flint's children in order to save a few dollars in water costs. This really is a shame and a disgrace.

Mr. Speaker, I have to ask, would this have happened in a city where the residents had the advantage of wealth? Or do these gross breaches of public trust only happen in cities where politicians believe the residents are expendable?

Sadly, I think we all know the answer to that question. After the incredible harm that has already been done to these families, our elected officials are, once again, turning their backs on the people of Flint. These families deserve better.

The people of Flint were already hurting before the water crisis. The average family income in the city is just $24,834 a year. No one can raise a family on that. Many of these courageous and resilient families struggle to find high-quality child care, access healthcare services, and afford healthy food. And now the costs of this crisis are mounting for families, the schools, and the entire community. We can, and we must, do more for our fellow Americans in their time of need.

Two years since this tragedy began, families are still relying on bottled water for daily life. Imagine using bottled water for everything from brushing your teeth to making a bottle for a hungry baby.

We can do better by these families. They need support, including health care, nutrition, specialized education, and developmental care. And we need to fix the root of the problem: the degraded, dangerous pipes, and infrastructure that caused this tragedy.

The shortsighted, dangerous actions of Michigan officials have already caused unimaginable pain for these families. We cannot allow Congress to betray these families as well.

Let me just say that I was part of a congressional delegation that traveled to Flint, Michigan, to listen to the residents regarding the horrendous impact of these government decisions that led to the poisoning of those children and families. The environmental injustice in Flint is an example of how many low-income communities of color throughout our country, not just in Flint, throughout the United States, an example of how they are treated differently than affluent communities.

Mr. Speaker, Congressman Dan Kildee and members of the Michigan delegation have introduced legislation that would help these families rebuild their lives and get the care they need for their children. The Families of Flint Act, H.R. 4479, is a comprehensive plan to address their most urgent needs. It would provide for critical investment in Flint's water system to replace the lead pipes that poisoned these families.

This legislation would also provide essential support services to the families of Flint to help these children mitigate and overcome lead exposure.

These are simple, commonsense measures for the people of Flint. Addressing this tragedy really shouldn't be a partisan issue. Every Member of this Chamber should understand the need for urgent action. It could happen in any of our communities. Yet, congressional Republicans have not held one single vote, or even a hearing, on this bill. That is just simply outrageous.

And let me just say that Flint is not the only public health crisis that congressional Republicans have ignored. There are 17,000 Americans--including almost 1,600 pregnant women--who have contracted the Zika virus. The President submitted an emergency request of $1.9 billion for Zika funding more than 6 months ago, and the Republicans have failed to act on it. Now, if we don't act soon, the CDC will be out of money to combat Zika in a matter of weeks.

Congressional Republicans also failed to do their job on gun violence. Every day, more than 90 million people die from gun violence. This, too, is a public health crisis; but congressional Republicans, once again, have refused to take up any commonsense gun legislation, even though 91 percent of Americans support background checks to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists and criminals.

It is clear that the American people need Congress to do its job. The women in Florida who can't leave their homes for fear of a mosquito bite need Congress to do its job. The families who fear gun violence on their block need Congress to do its job.

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