February 10, 2016
House Democrats Hold Hearing:
'The Flint Water Crisis: Lessons for Protecting America's Children'
CAPTION: Leader Pelosi, Congresswoman DeLauro, Congresswoman Edwards, Congressman Kildee, Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) meet with witnesses prior to their hearing,
“The Flint Water Crisis: Lessons for Protecting America's Children”
Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Steering & Policy Committee Co-Chairs Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI), and the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee held a hearing entitled, “The Flint Water Crisis: Lessons for Protecting America’s Children.” At the hearing, Leader Pelosi, Congresswoman DeLauro, Congresswoman Edwards, Congressman Kildee and the House Democrats heard testimony on this ongoing emergency from public health experts and local officials.
“Today, the children and families of Flint, Michigan are caught in an unconscionable crisis. In an American city, thousands and thousands of children have been drinking and bathing in poisonous water for more than a year. It was not an unavoidable natural disaster – it was a man-made catastrophe,” said Leader Pelosi. “Now, thousands of children are at risk of lifelong damage from lead exposure – unless we help get them the care, attention and resources they need. We must, and we will.”
“The Flint water crisis is deeply troubling and the negligence that led us to this point is unconscionable. Not only did the State of Michigan fail to protect and serve its people, the government created the crisis and magnified its effects with delayed responses and outright lies that have endangered families and children,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “As Michael Ignatieff, academic and politician, once wrote, ‘A contract of citizenship defines the duties of care that public officials owe to the people of a democratic society.’ When the decision was made to switch the water source to the Flint River, the contract of American citizenship failed. The people of Flint deserve answers, and the American people deserve the assurance that this situation will not happen again in their communities.”
“The Flint Water Crisis struck a chord in Michigan, in Washington, and across the country – and for good reason,” said Congresswoman Edwards. “It is clear that the residents of Flint suffered a serious injustice. One of the most important responsibilities of government, at all levels – local, state, and federal – is to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the American people. That trust and responsibility was betrayed in Flint by Governor Snyder and his administration. I will continue to work with Leader Pelosi, Rep. DeLauro, and Rep. Kildee to demand answers so this never happens again, and to ensure that the families and children of Flint receive the care they deserve.”
“I am a son of Flint and it breaks my heart to see what is happening in my hometown,” Congressman Kildee said. “Decisions by state officials led to the Flint water crisis and the state of Michigan has the responsibility to step up in a big way to help Flint families and children. While it’s clear that the state created this man-made crisis, the federal government also has in its capacity to help. Congress should act without delay to help Flint families get the immediate and long-term resources they need to recover.”
The following witnesses testified before the Steering & Policy Committee:
· Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Director, Pediatric Residency Program, Hurley Medical Center
· Dr. Yanna Lambrinidou, President, Parents for Nontoxic Alternatives
· Mr. Bilal Kareem Tawwab, Superintendent, Flint (MI) School District
· Dr. Eric Scorsone, Associate Professor & Founding Director of the Michigan State University Extension Center for State and Local Government Policy
· Flint (MI) Mayor Karen Weaver
The witnesses’ testimonies can be found here, and the hearing can be viewed here.
