02.04.16

Durbin: Flint Water Crisis is a Disaster, Congress Must Step Forward and Act

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the urgent water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

   

“This is a disaster. As we speak, almost 100,000 people are being forced to live without access to clean water in their homes,” said Durbin. “Every time I hear about this story, the same question comes to my mind: who’s going to jail for poisoning 9,000 children? A knowing decision by a city manager to switch to a water supply which was contaminated and endangered the health of thousands of children, and tens of thousands of citizens, if that isn’t grounds for at least investigation, I don’t know what is.”

   

Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI) had offered a measure to help address the water crisis to a comprehensive energy bill. That offer was rejected by Senate Republican leaders.

   

Durbin added, “I can’t tell you how many times senators from states all across the nation have asked the same question: will you help us? Will you help us in Louisiana? In Alabama? In Texas? There’s hardly a state that hasn’t come to the floor of the Senate asking for help. And yet for reasons I can’t explain, the Republican majority of the United States Senate is resisting this idea.”

   

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate Floor is available here.

   

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate Floor is available here.

   

Footage of Durbin remarks on the Senate Floor is available for TV Stations using FTP in high definition here and in standard definition here.