FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Contact: Mitchell Rivard, 202-595-4885, [email protected]
Congressman Dan Kildee Calls for Investigation into Flint Water Woes
Kildee Demands Answers, Calls Flint Lead Levels “Failure of Government at Every Level”
FLINT – Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) today, in his ongoing work to achieve transparency and demand answers for Flint residents, wrote a letter to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Gina McCarthy, calling for an investigation into the causes of the water problems in Flint. Congressman Kildee called for answers to questions related to EPA’s oversight of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and its oversight of state delegated authority that contributed to the water crisis. The letter can be viewed here.
“In order to restore confidence, and to ensure that these failures never happen again, I believe that the EPA needs to conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the water problems in Flint. The failure of government to provide safe drinking water to Flint is unacceptable, and there must be accountability,” Congressman Kildee’s letter reads.
On Monday, the state of Michigan admitted for the first time that federal rules governing drinking water were not properly followed in Flint.
“Unfortunately, the citizens of Flint are the victims in this situation. They deserve a thorough investigation and answers to these questions,” Congressman Kildee said.
Last week, after Congressman Kildee called for federal technical advisors to come to Flint, the EPA established a task force to provide expertise to the city and state.
In March, Congressman Kildee asked the EPA to forgive loans made through the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund in order to free up money to make water infrastructure improvements in Flint. He also has repeatedly fought for additional emergency assistance, including lead-clearing filters and bottled water, from the federal government until a long-term solution can be reached.
Dan Kildee’s letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy referenced above:
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Dan Kildee is the U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 5th Congressional District.