Representative Dan Kildee of the 5th District of Michigan introduced a bill to give aid to Flint, Michigan on Wednesday, February 4. The Bill is an amendment to the Safe Water Drinking Act.
The bill, according to a Press Release by the Congressman, has four main focuses. Infrastructure repairs are one emphasis of the act, dedicating funds to the testing, evaluation, reparation, modification, and construction of lead-service water lines.
Services for families and children exposed to lead are a second focal point of the Act. Money would be channeled to education for Flint children exposed to lead including developing health centers at schools. Mental health facilities would be incorporated into the public school system.
Economic development constitutes the third main focus of the bill, teaming with the Department of Labor and the Department of Commerce to increase teenage employment and expand assistance programs in the City of Flint. The Department of Justice would be given funds for juvenile delinquency prevention.
A large portion of the Families of Flint Act is dedicated to health monitoring, including creating a "Center of Excellence on Lead Exposure." Research and health monitoring being the purpose of the Center, an advisory committee would be created in order to oversee the actions of the Center and its partners. Duties of the Center include generating a health registry, maintaining clinical data, researching physical, behavioral, and developmental effects of lead exposure, and education and outreach to the Flint community. They would partner with the Regional Center of Excellence on Nutrition Education of the Department of Agriculture to relay relevant information on the impacts of lead mitigation.
The proposed Bill creates coalitions between The City of Flint with the Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, and Department of Housing and Urban Development, including others. The Act would give aid for 10 years upon its approval. A financial matching requirement demands that the state must provide non-federal funds equal to the amount from the federal government if passed.
The Families of Flint Act can be read here. The Press Release by Congressman Dan Kildee can be found on his website.
