[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
                            FLINT, MICHIGAN

  (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, in the next week or so, we will pass a 
spending bill to fund the government for the next 10 weeks, and it is 
absolutely critical that we include in that legislation funding to help 
my hometown of Flint recover from the terrible water crisis that it is 
facing. That should be included in the continuing resolution.
  A city of 100,000 people, for 2 years, can't drink their water and 
are still dealing with the effects of lead poisoning. Hearings have 
been held in Congress, multiple committees, lots of sympathy, and 
Members asking me: What can I do? It is real simple. The Senate passed 
legislation that would provide relief for the people of Flint, 95-3, 
bipartisan legislation, paid for--let me emphasize--paid for. We have 
an offset.
  Yet, House negotiators, on the continuing resolution, continue to 
take the position that we will consider relief for all sorts of issues, 
and we will get a spending bill, but nothing for Flint.
  Take yes for an answer. When you asked us to come up with an offset 
to deal with this terrible public health crisis, we came up with an 
offset.
  So to my colleagues, my God, at long last, do the right thing. Help 
this community that is struggling. We have come up with a way to get it 
done. There is no excuse for not getting it done. It has to happen now.

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