[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.

                          ____________________