Senate Approves $170M To Fix Flint Water System
Flint, Michigan, moved a step closer Monday to federal help to clean up its water supply with passage in the Senate of a massive waterways bill that also authorizes drought relief for California. The measure now goes to the House.
Congress will have to provide funds for the measure in the continuing resolution needed to keep the government running through the end of the year. The current spending authorization expires Friday.
The Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act 95-3.
The bill provides $100 million to help fix Flint’s drinking water system, contaminated by lead leached from aging pipes when the water supply was switched from Lake Huron to the highly polluted Flint River. It also provides $50 million for healthcare for children who suffered lead poisoning and $20 million to forgive Flint’s old drinking water loans. The bill also provides $70 million to activate a $1 billion fund for low-interest loans to finance upgrades to water infrastructure.
“Today’s passage is an important reminder to the nation that the crisis in Flint is far from over. Today families still cannot drink the unfiltered water that comes out of their faucets! Now, our colleagues in the House need to act as quickly as possible. It's also essential that the State of Michigan fully meet their responsibilities to solve the water crisis,” Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said in a statement.
In addition to the money for Flint, the bill provides $40 million for programs to help communities reduce lead in drinking water systems and $100 million in grants to test for lead at schools and child care facilities.
The House passed its own water bill, providing $170 million for Flint while the Senate version contains $50 million more to provide funds for communities nationwide.
Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., said he hopes the House follows through on the commitment to Flint.
The California drought language was added to the Senate bill in last-minute negotiations. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., argued against the bill, the Hill reported. She said the proposed diversion of water to drought-stricken communities would have a devastating impact on the fishery industry and roll back the Endangered Species Act
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., broke with Boxer on the issue, saying the bill isn’t perfect, “but I do believe it will help California, and it has bipartisan support, including Republicans and Democrats in the House, and that’s why I’m supporting it.”
She added: “I know that we absolutely can protect California’s environment and wildlife while improving how we move and store water in California. After all, the state is home to 40 million people, but we have essentially the same water system we had five decades ago when the population was 16 million people.”
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