[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H1948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FLINT, MICHIGAN
(Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, so far this House of Representatives has
done nothing to help the people of my hometown of Flint, Michigan. I
left Flint this morning, and I left behind a city of 100,000 people who
for 2 years now have not been able to drink the water coming out of
their tap.
It is a disaster, it is a public health crisis, and it demands a
response not just from the State government, which clearly is
principally responsible for what happened. The people of my hometown
are American citizens and have a right to have their national
government, the Federal Government, step in and help them in the moment
of their greatest need.
This is the job of the United States Congress. We have legislation
that would provide relief to the people of Flint rather than arguing
over blame. That will come in time. There has been plenty of time
devoted to that subject.
The legislation that I offer would have the Federal Government and
the State government equally share in the cost of putting this
community back together and getting the people in Flint, Michigan,
something that every American ought to be able to get up in the morning
and take for granted, and that is that the water they drink is clean,
safe, and will not make them sick. It is time for this House to act.
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