U.S. Rep Dan Kildee meets with familes affected by Flint water crisis

February 6, 2016

FLINT, MI -- Congressman Dan Kildee held a community meeting Saturday to hear from residents affected by the Flint water crisis. The meeting was held at Foss Avenue Baptist Church in Flint on Saturday, Feb. 6. Kildee, along with Congressman Sandy Levin (D-Royal Oak), Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield), Congress Woman Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn),Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, and Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson listened to the concerns and questions of Flint residents. Flint resident Kerensz Harris said the question-and-answer formatted meeting helped answer many questions residents had. She said Flint needs more resources and aid. "Residents addressed their concerns and then the need to get the information out in a synchronized manner in real time. They need more resources and it's about finances and the finances coming to the city of Flint," Harris said. "Some of the mayors said when they declared their emergencies the resources were there and sites for people to go to. That's one of the issues we're still having." Kildee said much of what he heard from families he was left feeling shaken by their stories. "The national discussion about what's been taking place in Flint doesn't even come close to the stories that we just heard. I want to thank those families for having the courage to sit down with us and tell us things that are hard for people to hear," Kildee said. "What we heard today underscores the fact that the state of Michigan which was controlling the city of Flint and had principle responsibility for enforcing clean drinking water laws, completely failed the people of this community and that failure has consequences. Unfortunately, so far anyway, the state response to this crisis has been in no way equal to the gravity of the problem." Kaptur said Toledo, Ohio went through a similar water crisis more than a year ago. An algal toxin in Lake Erie contaminated the drinking water used by Toledo residents and many of its suburbs in 2014. At one point the water was shut completely off for three days. The Ohio Congresswoman said she was surprised by the lack of response Flint has seen since the crisis began. "We have actually lived through a different type of crisis and when we read about Flint we wanted to stand with you and walk with you." Kaptur said. "What has frankly been shocking to me in listening to the citizens who were kind enough to meet with us today is the lack of dispatch and an emergency coordinator and an emergency team that is fully at work 24-hours a day dealing with the people here, dealing with the health needs, dealing with the human need, dealing with the infrastructure planning that will be essential to help Flint meet a new future." Kildee introduced legislation last week that would provide federal assistance and federal resources to Flint. The supplemental appropriations bill -- which requires state-matching funds -- would address four key areas of infrastructure repairs, wrap-around services for families and children exposed to lead, economic development, and health monitoring. "This will be a $765 million investment to overcome this crisis," Kildee said. "Now I'm realistic about what it means to make that kind of request and introduce legislation of that magnitude...but I will say this, If the outrage we are hearing from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle is matched in any way with action, this is exactly what we need to have." Here are the details of Kildee's legislation: Infrastructure Repairs – $385 million -- $770 million total with state match:Replacing Lead Service Lines

Direct grants would be awarded to the city of Flint for any activities deemed necessary by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the city of Flint's drinking water does not contain high lead levels. This includes repair and/or replacement of public and private water service lines, inspection of public and/or private water service lines, and corrosion control programs to optimization public and/or private water service lines.

Loan Forgiveness

Eliminates the current cap of 20 percent of state Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF) that can be used on loan forgiveness
Allows the state of Michigan to forgive existing DWSRF loans made to the city of Flint

Wrap-Around Services for Flint Families and Children Exposed to Lead – $235 million -- $470 million total with state match:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – $135 million -- $270 million total with state match:

$125 million for Head Start and Early Start for Flint children exposed to lead
$5 million for school based health centers in all Flint schools
$5 million for mental health services for Flint families and children dealing with lead exposure

U.S. Department of Education – $90 million -- $180 million total with state match:

$25 million for reduced class sizes, hire additional school personnel, and fund improvements to Flint school buildings;
$25 million for city-wide after-school programs for Flint children exposed to lead
$25 million for expanded PELL Grants to support additional college access for Flint youth
$5 million for special education services
$5 million for career and technical education
$5 million to create a 'Promise Neighborhood' program in Flint

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Allowing the Agriculture Secretary to expand Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program to areas where a federal state of emergency has been declared

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – $5 million -- $10 million total with state match:

$5 million for lead prevention programs

U.S. Department of Justice – $5 million -- $10 million total with state match:

$5 million for juvenile delinquency prevention programs

Economic Development – $45 million -- $90 million total with state match:U.S. Department of Labor – $20 million -- $40 million total with state match:

$10 million for expanded youth employment opportunities for Flint youth
$10 million for workforce training, literacy and apprenticeship grants

U.S. Department of Commerce — $25 million -- $50 million total with state match:

$12.5 million for economic development assistance programs for the city of Flint
$12.5 million for minority business development programs

Health Monitoring – $100 million -- $200 million total with state match:Center of Excellence on Lead Exposure

Authorizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a Center of Excellence on Lead Exposure in Flint, and appropriates funding over 10 years for the center's operation
- Create a health registry to monitor and track Flint families and children exposed to lead
- Establish an advisory committee to provide scientific testing and technical support
- Research behavioral and health impacts, including mitigation efforts from lead exposure
- Require twice-annual reporting to Flint community on research conducted

Issues:Local Issues