Skip to main content

Congressman Dan Kildee Reiterates Call for Federal Assistance in Flint Water Crisis to President Obama, Gov. Rick Snyder

January 11, 2016

WASHINGTON – Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) today reiterated his call for federal assistance in the ongoing Flint water crisis. Today, in separate letters to both President Barack Obama and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Congressman Kildee said the state's response so far to the public health emergency has been ‘inadequate' and that federal assistance is needed to help Flint residents. Here you can read the letters to President Obama and Governor Snyder. In September 2015, after learning of high lead levels in the city's water, Congressman Kildee wrote to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Center for Disease Control requesting federal resources from agencies to help provide clean drinking water to Flint residents. In November 2015, Congressman Kildee also wrote to Governor Snyder encouraging "the state to request assistance from federal agencies" to help with the crisis. Congressman Kildee also pledged to work with Governor Snyder to help support any state requests for federal assistance. "In November, I wrote to you encouraging the state to request assistance from federal agencies. To date, federal assistance has not been requested by the state. Since in my opinion the state's response to the ongoing crisis has been inadequate, I reached out to the White House today to request assistance with any additional federal resources that may be available," Congressman Kildee said in his letter sent to Governor Snyder today. For months, Congressman Kildee has been advocating for immediate resources from the state and federal government to help victims of the crisis and make much-needed improvements to Flint's water distribution system. In December, Congressman Kildee spoke at the White House about the Flint water crisis and the need for critical investments in our nation's older, industrial cities like Flint. He also previously testified before the EPA's National Drinking Water Advisory Council regarding changes to federal policy regarding the Flint water crisis. ###