California Sen. Barbara Boxer wants future presidents to be able to respond better to lead water crises like the one enveloping an eastern Michigan city.
Boxer, the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, will introduce a bill Monday that would allow presidents to be able to classify lead in drinking water as a federal disaster. Current law does not allow that, limiting the amount of aid that can be sent to Flint, Mich., where people can’t drink the water due to lead contamination.
The legislation would allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services and the Army Corps of Engineers to work together to solve these types of crises.
“It is critical that future presidents do not have their hands tied because the definition of a disaster does not include lead contamination in drinking water,” Boxer said. “My bill would add this as a disaster, which it clearly is.”
In April 2014, a state emergency manager appointed by the governer signed off on a symbolic vote from the Flint City Council to change the city’s water source. The move aimed to cut costs by requiring the city to take its water from the Flint River instead of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department while a new pipeline was built to connect the city to Lake Huron.
The Flint River water, however, was so acidic that it caused the lead pipes bringing water from the city’s cast iron mains to homes to corrode. Lead leached off the pipes and into the drinking water of homes throughout the city. The state has declared a state of emergency and Flint residents are not able to drink the water coming out of their taps.
The Senate delegation from Michigan, along with Boxer, is negotiating with other senators to get a funding deal to help Flint and other cities that may be experiencing lead water crises nationwide to the Senate floor.
A $220 million funding package that includes federal backing for low-interest loans is stalled in the upper chamber.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has placed a hold on the deal citing concerns about the federal government getting involved in what he sees as a state matter. Other senators have placed holds on the deal citing more local concerns, such as banning offshore drilling in Florida or doing more offshore drilling in Louisiana.
Boxer said those holds need to be removed.
“The outrageous disaster in Flint, Michigan, is being addressed by an excellent bipartisan bill negotiated by the two Michigan senators. I call on those in the Senate who are holding up this compromise to step aside and allow us to move to the bill,” Boxer said.
