Democratic Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said, “100,000 people in Flint, Michigan have been poisoned, but sadly Republicans are doing nothing”. While Lawrence applauded Wednesday’s hearing, she and other Democrat renewed their call for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and other state officials to testify.
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President Barack Obama has said that about $80 million in federal funding is being made available to MI for investment in water system upgrades. “What happened in Flint was avoidable and never should have happened”, Beauvais told the House panel. Cornyn says it’s premature to write a “blank check” for Flint when state officials have not fully assessed their needs. When the water contamination occurred in 2014, the city was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager who switched the city’s source of water from the Detroit system to the Flint River.
The city switched back last October after tests found high levels of lead in children’s blood samples.
The comprehensive energy bill, which was purposely kept somewhat narrow in scope to improve its chances of passage, has enjoyed support from both Republicans and Democrats and would take steps to modernize the nation’s electrical grid, increase energy-efficiency programs and make other improvements.
“Requesting assistance for state disasters is a common occurrence among both Republicans and Democrats”. The package was proposed by Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters through an amendment to the Energy Policy and Modernization Act, which is now under consideration in the Senate.
Republicans also blocked a Democratic amendment to add $3.5 million to expand eligibility for nutrition benefits and services to children up to age 10 in Flint. He said that $75 million would refund 30,000 Flint citizens’ water bills and the other $75 million would aid in any damage that the polluted water caused to pipes, water heaters, pumps, and other equipment. While lawmakers and officials traded charges at the four-hour House hearing, much of the attention was on three people who weren’t there.
Once the the water arrives at Blackwell A.M.E Zion Church a team will distribute the water door-to-door to Flint residents. Earley’s attorney, A. Scott Bolden, says it was “physically impossible” for him to appear at the hearing. The oversight committee issued a subpoena to Earley on Tuesday, but his lawyer refused service, a committee staffer said.
Chaffetz said today he hoped to bring Earley before the committee later this month. Michigan’s governor has apologized repeatedly for the state’s role.
MI has approved $37 million in emergency funding for Flint for the current fiscal year.
The aid would provide credit for the estimated portion of residential customers’ bills for water that was or will be used for drinking, cooking or bathing from 2014 until this spring.
In addition to this class action, representatives in Washington DC are trying to get funds for the people of Flint. Democrats were equally adamant that the state was to blame. “Maybe it’s more than $30 million, maybe it’s less than $30 million”, Hildenbrand said.
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State officials “relied on technical compliance (with the law) instead of assuring safe drinking water”, said Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
