A Public Health Crisis in Flint, Michigan

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, right now in my hometown of Flint, Michigan, there is a public health crisis. In the 21st century, in a city of 100,000 people, they cannot deliver safe drinking water. They can't guarantee safe drinking water because of high lead levels. As a result of a decision by a State-appointed financial receiver, the city now has water that is undrinkable.

I continue to pursue all avenues to provide relief to my hometown as they struggle with this crisis, to provide relief to the victims and support to that community as it now has to rebuild its water infrastructure.

The State of Michigan could act to forgive the city of its current debt to the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund, and it should do that immediately. I am pushing for action to do that, and that requires not only the support of the State government but the Federal Government as well.

The State also must act to provide a health fund to provide monitoring, education in the short term, and assistance in the long term to individuals, especially children, who have been exposed to high levels of lead.

What is happening in Flint is a failure of government. It cannot be allowed, and the State and Federal Government need to act to help this poor city.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source