Flint Aid Closer as House Passes Water Bill, CR

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WASHINGTON – Flint, Mich., and other cities with contaminated water supplies would get $170 million of federal aid under a water bill and continuing resolution passed by the House on Thursday.

Officials from Flint, which declared a lead contamination outbreak in April 2014, have lobbied for federal funds in the two-and-a-half years since to help remedy the crisis.

The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN), which would authorize the $170 million to be spent, was approved by a vote of 360-61.

The continuing resolution, which would appropriate the $170 million and fund federal programs and services through April 28, 1017, was passed by a vote of 326-96. The CR would prevent a shutdown of the federal government on Dec. 9 when a current CR expires.

But the Senate must now pass these measures and some members are threatening to block their passage.

Sen Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., has threatened to block the water bill over a provision that would relax environmental regulations in order to allow more water to be pumped from federal and state projects to drought-stricken central and southern California.

Sen. Joe Manchin, III, D-West Va., and other Democrats from coal states said they may try to block approval of the CR over the inadequacy of a four-month patch to keep health care benefits for miners from lapsing. They want a much longer extension.

Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., thanked the House for the Flint aid but said on Thursday, “It’s absolutely critical that the Senate do the same and pass both the [water] bill and the government funding bill.”

The water bill and CR would provide $100 million for the Safe Water Drinking Act State Revolving Fund, which would allow Flint to access funding to replace lead service lines and address other water infrastructure needs.

The legislation would also provide $20 million in loans through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act for water infrastructure projects, including those that address lead and other water contamination issues.

Also, $50 million would be included for public health initiatives, including: $17.5 million for a lead exposure registry to collect data of individuals exposed to lead; $2.5 million for an advisory committee to provide input on research needs for lead poisoning; $15 million for the creation of a Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program; and $15 million for a Healthy Start Initiative to improve child and maternal health.

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