Flint City Officials Ask Congress for $55 Million to Replace Pipes

Clinton made the stop at the children’s center in downtown Flint days after her mother and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton visited the House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church on Flint’s north side to discuss the city’s ongoing water crisis and call for relief funding. Teachers complaining of mold and other deplorable conditions in the Detroit school district waged a sickout this year that closed dozens of schools in the city.

“We need that other $30 million, too, whether from the state or the federal government or both”, Weaver said Wednesday in testimony before the House Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee. Democrats said the session was needed after Weaver and other officials were not invited to a GOP-led hearing last week that devolved into partisan accusations over blame for the crisis. Republicans should “heed the call” for help for Flint, Becerra added. “It’s an opportunity to help people, and we want to help people”, he said. The bill now goes to the Senate for a vote.

Such precautionary measures are recommended whenever a water system loses pressure for a significant amount of time, the city said. “We hope they will come forward with us on some meaningful action on the federal level, understanding that the real accountability lies with the governor and the state, but we’re ready to act”.

Additional funds requested by the governor include $37 million to improve water quality in Flint, including $25 million for infrastructure replacement, $15 million to expand Flint’s school nutrition program, $60 million for a host of children’s services, and $50 million in a contingency fund, for as-yet-developed causes. “A focused, swift, and detailed investigation by the Department of Justice will be a significant step in rectifying this situation and determining whom to hold responsible for inflicting a lifetime of harm upon a vulnerable community”.

Would the Legislature approve new revenue, to fix problems in Flint, in Detroit, or in the aging infrastructure that stretches across the state? “They broke my city”. “That doesn’t solve the problem”.

“The governor’s administration and his state-appointed emergency financial managers created this crisis and he must answer questions so the whole truth can be found”, Kildee said. “In truth, we’re open to that”.

Speaking after the meeting, Donovan dismissed criticism from some Republicans that the fiscal 2017 budget request did not specifically ask for assistance for Flint.

“We’re going to get rid of these lead pipes one house at a time, one street at a time, one neighborhood at a time, until they’re all gone”, Weaver said in a statement Tuesday. That money is included in the $195 million total. President Barack Obama declared an emergency in Flint on January 16, 2016.

Angered that MI officials have declined to testify before his committee about Flint’s water crisis, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings on Thursday instead took his argument to them.

“People were quickly informed of the results in the schools, and that action on the fixtures with elevated levels was taken immediately”. “I’m asking Gov. Snyder and the state to partner on this effort”.