Saturday, February 27, 2016

Congress Finally Comes To An Agreement To Give Financial Assistance To Local Flint Government Regarding The Lead Poison Water Crisis


Flint, Michigan 

This is a follow up to the January 28, 2016 Judiciary Report article “Congress Needs To Intervene In Flint, Michigan With An Emergency Clean Water Bill.” On February 25, 2016 the U.S. Congress tentatively pledged to allocate $250,000,000 to Flint, Michigan regarding the lead poison water crisis that has sickened and kill residents.

Extensive medical and science research needs to be done to assess the full scope of human damage in the crisis. One of the issues worrying me most about the crisis is pregnant women in Flint drank and bathed in the lead poison laden water for a prolonged period of time. Unborn babies consuming lead and at a steady rate during pregnancy will cause adverse health effects to mother and child. Toddlers and other underage children consumed and bathed in the tainted water as well.

There are medicines that aide in halting and reversing some of the effects of lead poisoning. A doctor supervised detox program can be beneficial as well. However, chronic exposure to lead means there is some permanent damage done (cellular, neurological). Consuming foods rich in anti-oxidants, such as green tea and oranges, helps to keep people health (but it won't fix the problem).

Something should have been done to stop the pollutants sooner, as the negative health effects on an sizable city is a human tragedy. Consuming lead can do an enormous amount of short term and long term damage to the human body. It was "pennywise and pound foolish" and a case of false economy in trying to save money via what was/is a tainted water source, as Medicaid and Medicare health bills will mount, as will massive lawsuits the State and federal government will face, due to their criminal negligence and years of inaction.

Where was the EPA while all of this was happening. Why did it take the Virginia Tech, a non-government entity, to go to Flint, test the water and sound the alarm. Brown water pouring out of people's taps in a city of 99,000, sickening and killing people and the government mysteriously thought the problem would just magically go away and fix itself. I don't believe in magic. Neither should the government. Real problems need real solutions.

STORY SOURCE

Congress proposes $250 million for Flint, others
 
05:53 PM CST Feb 25, 2016 UPDATED: 07:28 PM CST Feb 25, 2016 - Congress is proposing $250 million to assist residents of Flint, Michigan, and other American cities experiencing critical problems with their water supplies, Sen. James Inhofe announced Thursday. Inhofe, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said the proposed bipartisan legislation "helps to increase nationwide funding for Drinking Water Act State Revolving Funds and provide start-up funding for the new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program."... 


Flint City Officials Ask Congress for $55 Million to Replace Pipes

Feb. 11, 2016 - City officials from Flint, Michigan asked Democratic members of congress to find the $55 million to fund a plan to replace the city’s lead pipes. On Tuesday, Flint mayor Karen Weaver unveiled the plan to begin replacing the city’s lead pipes next month, the Guardian reports. Weaver and a number of other Flint authorities testified in Washington, D.C. the next day before the House Democratic Steering and Policy committee, led by Representative Nancy Pelosi. 

“I implore you, on behalf of the city of Flint, to help us restore our city,” Weaver said. “I submit to you that we are not disposable people.” Many have called for pipe replacements since the current system became contaminated with lead when the water supply switched from Lake Huron to the Flint River to save money.

Michigan governor Rick Snyder declined an invitation to attend the meeting in D.C. He presented his proposed budget on Wednesday, however, dedicating $37 million to the city for 2017, the Detroit Free Press reports. “My students cannot even walk to the nearest fountain to quench their thirst,” KMVT reports school superintendent Bilal Tawaab said at the hearing. “This has become their new normal.”
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