[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S710-S711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FLINT, MICHIGAN, WATER CRISIS
Mr. REID. Mr. President, the people in Flint, MI, continue to suffer
through a catastrophic series of problems. Basically, it is their
water. It is heavily contaminated. Their nightmare, which began almost
2 years ago, is an emergency that requires a Federal response, and that
is what we have been trying to do. In the case of emergencies like
this, we must act to help Americans dealing with a public health
crisis.
For weeks now, we have called on Republicans to work with us to
provide assistance for the people of Flint--100,000 people. Nine
thousand children under the age of 6 have been poisoned in that little
city in Michigan. It is very large by Nevada standards, but by Michigan
standards, that city is not one of the bigger ones, but they need help.
We need help from the Republicans. Nothing is happening because we
haven't had enough Republican support. In the meantime, the people of
Flint, MI, are using bottled water to bathe, to drink, to brush their
teeth, and to cook with. That is really too bad.
This should not be a partisan issue. This is drinking water we are
talking about. Everyone is entitled to pure, clean drinking water, and
access to safe water is a right every American deserves. Whether you
live in Michigan, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Illinois--it doesn't
matter where you live, you shouldn't be afraid to drink the water that
comes out of your faucet. No one should have to suffer, but the people
of Flint, MI have suffered.
Yesterday the American Academy of Pediatrics wrote a long letter to
me and to Senator McConnell. In this letter they said that this
organization representing 65,000 pediatricians and other pediatric
specialists believes something needs to be done with the water in
Flint.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record
the letter from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
American Academy of Pediatrics,
Elk Grove Village, IL, February 8, 2016.
Hon. Mitch McConnell,
Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Harry Reid,
Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Leaders McConnell and Reid: On behalf of the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a non-profit professional
organization of 64,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric
medical sub-specialists, and pediatric surgical specialists
dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants,
children, adolescents, and young adults, I write regarding
Congressional efforts to respond to the tragedy in Flint,
Michigan and the exposure of its citizens to lead, a potent
neurotoxin, through their drinking water.
The AAP supports federal efforts to provide immediate
funding and other assistance to the people of Flint,
including the amendment offered by Senators Stabenow and
Peters. While their proposal is a vitally important first
step, we would urge the Senate to provide additional funding
for long-term educational, early literacy, nutrition,
medical, behavioral, and other assistance to this community.
This includes, but should not be limited to: support for Head
Start and Early Head Start; quality child care; literacy
programs; Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program
enrollment; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants, and Children; school meals and afterschool
feeding programs; and mental health screening and treatment.
There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Lead
damage can be permanent and irreversible. Lasting decreases
in cognition have been documented in children with blood
levels as low as 5 micrograms per deciliter of lead in
blood.' It is therefore clear that the children and families
of Flint will need comprehensive assistance in both the
short- and long-term.
The AAP is eager to assist this community, and federal
policymakers, in both immediate and longer-term solutions to
this public health tragedy. Thank you for your consideration.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact
Ami Gadhia in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Benard P. Dreyer, MD, FAAP,
President.
Mr. REID. I will only read a short phrase or two out of the letter,
which says it all:
The AAP supports federal efforts to provide immediate
funding and other assistance to the people of Flint,
including the amendment offered by Senators Stabenow and
Peters.
The letter goes on to say:
There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Lead
damage can be permanent and irreversible. Lasting decreases
in cognition have been documented in children with blood
levels as low as 5 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood.
It is therefore clear that the children and families of Flint
will need comprehensive assistance in both the short- and
long-term.
This is a letter from the American Academy of Pediatrics. These are
people who deal with children. They are not politicians. They are
willing to tell us that these children have been poisoned.
In order to do something for the children of Flint and other
families, we need help from my Republican colleagues. Despite harsh
words from several Members of the Republican caucus who have no
interest in resolving the crisis in Flint, some Republicans are willing
to help. For example, the senior Senator from Oklahoma has been working
with Senator Stabenow all weekend to put together an aid package that
includes immediate funding for the people of Flint. Now we are once
again waiting on Republicans to step forward and to support the chair
of the Environment and Public Works Committee. It is incumbent upon the
Republican majority to get to ``yes'' to
[[Page S711]]
help the people of Flint end this manmade emergency that is simply
beyond their control.
All Americans deserve safe, clean drinking water, not just some of
them. I hope my Republican colleagues will choose to help us to pass
legislation to resolve this crisis, sending emergency funds to the
people of Flint now.
Mr. President, would the Chair announce the business of the day.
____________________