[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 168 (Monday, November 16, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H8157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN FLINT, MICHIGAN

  (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  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.

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