[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 179 (Monday, December 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2028, 
 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
   2016, AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF S. 612, GEORGE P. KAZEN 
             FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

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                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2016

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in reluctant opposition to S. 612, 
the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN), a bill 
which reauthorizes water infrastructure projects and includes 
authorizing language regarding Flint aid.
  First, let me acknowledge Congressman Dan Kildee, who has worked 
tirelessly to bring justice to the Flint families. His work and the 
work of the Michigan delegation, is essential to ensuring the people of 
Flint have the resources that they need to recover.
  Mr. Speaker, while I strongly support that this bill included $170 
million for Flint and other communities impacted by lead to replace 
water infrastructure and provide needed health care, I am deeply 
concerned about the poison pill California drought rider.
  This shameful rider would gut environmental protections in 
California's Bay-Delta, threatening thousands of fishing jobs, water 
quality, and endangered species. This harmful rider also fails to 
adequately address critical elements of California's complex water 
challenges and will only worsen the effects of the drought.
  Mr. Speaker, it is completely unacceptable to hold Flint funding 
hostage to this anti-environmental rider.
  Since the beginning of this crisis, I have long supported providing 
robust funding for the families in Flint.
  And let me also say that I was part of a Congressional Delegation 
that traveled to Flint, Michigan to listen to the residents regarding 
the horrendous impact of these government decisions that led to the 
poisoning of those on children and families.
  However, while this bill does include funding for Flint, Republicans 
played partisan politics by inserting a poison pill drought rider, and 
sadly I cannot support it.

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