Congresswoman Dingell Convened Downriver Environmental Town Hall Meeting to Hear Community Concerns

Statement

Tonight, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) convened a town hall meeting to provide a forum for community members to hear from experts on environmental issues impacting the Downriver communities.

The discussion included many issues affecting quality of air, water, and soil, as well as Superfund sites Downriver.

"Downriver is a thriving community that has it all: natural resources, a beautiful riverfront, a skilled workforce, and an incredibly strong sense of community," said Dingell. "We all face challenges, especially when ensuring clean air, clean water, and clean soil. Working together we can address challenges and continue working together to clean up contamination and make the most of the Downrivers."

Liesl Clark, Director of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) was a special guest. Also joining the town hall meeting will be other representatives of the EGLE agency, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Army Corps of Engineers, State Legislators, Local Mayors and Township Supervisors, Great Lakes Water, Wyandotte Water, Friends of the Detroit River, as well as subject matter experts.

"It is a privilege to work shoulder-to-shoulder with Congresswoman Dingell and the impressive roster of leaders participating in tonight's town hall," said Liesl Clark, Director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). "We all have in common the goal of protecting and enhancing our incredible natural resources and their contribution to Michiganders' wellbeing, economic vitality and quality of life."
"Grateful to Congresswoman Dingell for bringing together Downriver residents, local elected officials, my fellow Downriver legislators, EGLE, DHHS, & the EPA to discuss deeply the environmental issues and concerns that collectively we are grappling with. I look forward to continue working alongside my colleagues & the departments to address these urgent environmental issues to protect our drinking water and the waterways that we recreate in." - State Senator Erika Geiss, District 6

"Environmental quality affects many aspects of life for Downriver residents and those across the state of Michigan. I would like to thank Congresswoman Debbie Dingell for hosting tonight's town hall and for our continued collaboration with the EPA, EGLE, and others, in addressing this crucial topic."- State Representative Cara Clemente, District 14

"Because of our industrial past, we face a set of unique environmental challenges Downriver," said Camilleri. "But we also have so much potential. We have a lot of work to do to make sure our region's incredible natural resources are safe and usable for generations to come, and I'm proud to be a partner in that fight as we address climate change and plan Downriver's future."- State Representative Darrin Camelleri, District 23

" Whether we are talking about the water we drink or the air we breathe, we have the right to an environment that is not contaminated. I was happy to be part of the downriver environmental town hall. We heard from MI EGLE, EPA, and our residents on their environmental concerns. We need to be doing our best to ensure we are collaborating the best we can to address environmental concerns at all levels of government." -State Representative Alex Garza, District 12