House Democrats lined up to pledge their support to helping deal with the lead-contaminated water in Flint, Mich., as Congress held its second hearing about the crisis this month.
The Democratic Policy and Steering Committee met for what House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called “a very solemn occasion.” The meeting sought to get input from some Flint leaders, such as Mayor Karen Weaver and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the doctor who helped expose the crisis.
“The story of Flint challenges the conscience of America,” she said.
In April 2014, Flint switched its water source from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, which draws water from Lake Huron, to a local agency that also would take water from the lake.
However, the infrastructure needed to get water from Lake Huron to Flint under the new agency was not yet built, so an emergency manager appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder decided to take water from the Flint River as a temporary measure.
The water from the Flint River is so polluted and acidic that the water ate away at the lead pipes bringing water to the city’s homes.
Hanna-Attisha gave a look into what the effects of the lead-contaminated water will be, saying that the intelligence quotient of children in the city will be lowered due to their exposure to lead.
Tests being done now might not show how much lead was in the blood of children and what the effects could be, she said.
“All the testing being done right now will pick up all the effects of this public lead exposure,” she said.
The committee also looked into the issues with Flint’s government and the history of financial mismanagement that caused an emergency manager to take over the city. Emergency Manager Ed Kurtz decided to switch the water source temporarily to the Flint River.
Bilal Tawwab, superintendent of Flint Community Schools, spoke about how his district would be affected in coming years.
He said children will need to start doing developmental work two years before they would have otherwise entered school and the schools will need more help funding special education.
“Flint has lost jobs, we have lost infrastructure, we have lost families from our public schools and now our children have lost faith in our institutions,” he said.
It was a remarkable showing for the usually sparsely attended committee hearing. Many Democrats showed up to ask how they could help, how Flint got to where it is now and the current status.
It’s only the beginning of the process. The Congressional Black Caucus will be sending a delegation to Flint early next month to talk with residents and to get first-hand information about what’s happening.
Congress is discussing several pieces of legislation in relation to the crisis, including federal funding that is holding up an energy bill in the Senate.
“We want you to know that this committee … and the Congressional Black Caucus stands with you during this moment of crisis,” said Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, who visited Flint earlier this month, said she was amazed by what she saw and what she didn’t see.
She said there are no temporary showers or other temporary measures that could help restore some semblance of normal life to residents. She called it “an infraction of government duty” that more wasn’t being done.
“I was shocked, I was shocked at what was not there,” she said.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder was invited to appear before the committee Wednesday but declined due to his scheduled appearance before Michigan lawmakers presenting the state’s budget. Included in that budget is a $195 million package in aid for Flint.
However, Snyder’s absence bothered many Democrats on the committee. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., said he has been working with top House Republicans to get Snyder to testify to Congress.
“There’s not one day that goes by where I’m not in [House Oversight Chairman Jason] Chaffetz’s ear trying to get him here,” Cummings said of Snyder.
