Congressman Kildee Speaks on Flint Water Crisis with Congressional Delegation in Flint

FLINT – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) today led a congressional delegation to Flint, Mich., and spoke at a press conference following a series of on-the-ground meetings focusing on the ongoing Flint water crisis. A full transcript of his remarks, as delivered, is below:

“I am very honored to have my colleagues come from different parts of the state and different parts of the country to join with us in Flint. I’m going to have each of them explain their reasoning for being there and what their reflections are. But one thing I want to make clear is what is happened to Flint is of national interest. It’s of national interest for two reasons; the 100,000 people who live in the city who are the victims of a form of neglect from their own state government deserve to have a response equal to the gravity of the crisis, and that is a response that includes involvement from the federal government. They are citizens of the United States and my colleagues are here because they know we have an obligation when a crisis such as this hits a population of 100,000 people to respond at every level of government.

“It’s also of national interest because while the case, the situation, or the facts that led to Flint’s crisis are unique to the Flint situation, neglect of our older cities, neglect of infrastructure, neglect of our long term obligations to create a sustainable society, is something that impacts everyone in this country, including the people represented by the other members of Congress who are here today. This is a national story, because it is of national interest and it requires national response. So, we met with some local business leaders who helped us understand that there’s a long term consequence along with the immediate needs for water, intermediate needs for infrastructure help, the long term needs for health and behavioral support for the kids affected. There’s also a need to help us rebuild an economy that has taken a hit that we did not anticipate.

“We’ve had lots of struggles in Flint. We know that. We’ve been through a lot. We’re tough people. We always get back up on our feet, but we’ve taken a hit that is a man-made crisis that gives us another hurdle to overcome.

“So, it’s one thing for us to deal with the immediacy of need for water, to rebuild our infrastructure, to provide help and wrap around services for kids, so that those kids that have this additional hurdle actually have a path to opportunity. But it’s also important that we make sure that there’s opportunity waiting for them when they get there. That’s why the gravity of this crisis has to be met with the response that is broad enough and big enough to be equal to that challenge.

“Personally, let me just say this: these are the folks I work with every day in Washington. I’m going to ask them not to tell stories on me while they are here [LAUGHTER]. They’re here for a reason. The folks that you see right here occupy very important positions within the U.S Congress, but they also have a heart that has led them to Flint, Michigan. They’re here because they care, and as a son of Flint, I can’t tell you how much that means to me. It means a lot. We’re going to have them all speak and introduce one another in turn, but I’ll start by introducing to you a guy who had something to do with me getting into Congress in the first place. The Minority Whip, the Democratic Whip, really a leader of our caucus, and my good friend from Maryland, Steny Hoyer.”