Senator Barbara Boxer Says Republican CR Stiffs the People of Flint

Statement

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the statement below on the Republican continuing resolution (CR) which does not contain funding to address lead contamination in drinking water in Flint, Michigan.

Senator Boxer said: "The Republicans have put money in the CR for people in some states hit by natural disasters, but they did nothing for the families in Flint who have been suffering for two years from a man-made disaster. We know there is no safe level of lead in children, and the effects of lead exposure are irreversible. Lead harms the developing brains and nervous systems of children and fetuses. The children poisoned in Flint will be dealing with the harmful consequences of this lead contamination for the rest of their lives.

"What makes matters worse is that the Republicans claim that Flint will be taken care of in the WRDA bill. To be clear, only the Senate-passed WRDA bill includes help for Flint. The House bill does not. So, Republicans need to either take up and pass the Senate WRDA bill now -- or include assistance for the families of Flint in the CR.

"We have to help people who are in dire need in this country -- and not pick and choose which American families we're going to help."

Source