Flint, Michigan

Floor Speech

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Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, so far this House of Representatives has done nothing to help the people of my hometown of Flint, Michigan. I left Flint this morning, and I left behind a city of 100,000 people who for 2 years now have not been able to drink the water coming out of their tap.

It is a disaster, it is a public health crisis, and it demands a response not just from the State government, which clearly is principally responsible for what happened. The people of my hometown are American citizens and have a right to have their national government, the Federal Government, step in and help them in the moment of their greatest need.

This is the job of the United States Congress. We have legislation that would provide relief to the people of Flint rather than arguing over blame. That will come in time. There has been plenty of time devoted to that subject.

The legislation that I offer would have the Federal Government and the State government equally share in the cost of putting this community back together and getting the people in Flint, Michigan, something that every American ought to be able to get up in the morning and take for granted, and that is that the water they drink is clean, safe, and will not make them sick. It is time for this House to act.

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