Ted Cruz is among senators blocking a deal that would make hundreds of millions of dollars available for Flint, Mich., to deal with its lead-contaminated water.
Senators were hopeful Wednesday that a deal had been reached to make $100 million available to any state experiencing a drinking water emergency, provide $70 million to back secured loans to upgrade clean water and drinking infrastructure and authorize $50 million in funding for health programs to address and prevent the effects of lead exposure.
However, it appears multiple senators have blocked the deal for the short term, according to a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee spokesman.
“There are a few holds. [Committee Chairman Jim] Inhofe is genuinely trying to work through their concerns and therefore we will not be confirming who is holding the legislation at this time,” the person said.
A report from Bloomberg Thursday said New York Sen. Chuck Schumer confirmed Cruz is among the senators who have placed a hold on the deal.
The hold complicates what could have been a simple passage of an otherwise bipartisan Energy Modernization Act.
The deal would have been written as an amendment to the energy package and then transferred to a House-passed bill dealing with Flint. Discussions about sending federal aid to Flint stalled the energy bill earlier this month and resulted in the Michigan Senate delegation entering into negotiations with Inhofe.
Senators can block a piece of legislation from coming to the floor by placing a hold on a bill until their concerns about the legislation are worked out. Given that there are multiple holds on the Flint deal, it’s unlikely the Senate will be voting on the package until next week at the earliest.
Flint residents currently can’t drink water from the city’s water supply because it is tainted with lead. Water from the Flint River is so acidic that it is causing lead to leach off the pipes and into the drinking water.
The city switched water sources in April 2014, and a state of emergency was declared by the state in January. The Michigan legislature has approved $70 million in funding for the city.
