Kildee, Bipartisan Michigan Congressional Delegation Introduce Legislation To Reauthorize Flint Registry
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, along with U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, introduced new legislation in Congress to reauthorize the Flint Registry.
The Flint Registry Reauthorization Act would provide $50M for Flint’s lead exposure registry over the next decade. The Flint Registry was created and funded by Congress in 2016 but needs to be reauthorized. The Flint Registry is a community-based effort to identify individuals exposed to lead during Flint water crisis and improve their health and development through connections to critical health care and other resources.
Health experts warn that there is no safe level of exposure to lead and it can have lifelong impact including behavioral, endocrine, and cardiovascular conditions, as well as learning difficulties and neurodevelopmental deficits. The consequences of lead exposure are serious and long-lasting, especially for children. The bill’s long-term support for the Flint Registry will help ensure that the Flint Registry can continue to help families impacted by the water crisis get connected to nutrition, education, and health care services for many years to come.
“The Flint water crisis is not over. The people of my hometown of Flint are still facing the effects of this man-made crisis and the Flint Registry will continue to play a critical role in the city’s recovery,” said Congressman Kildee. “The Flint Registry has already connected thousands of Flint residents to important health care, educational and nutritional services to minimize the impact of lead on their health. It is also critical to recognize that Flint residents are now dealing with two back-to-back crises, including the ongoing water crisis and now the coronavirus pandemic. This makes supporting the Flint Registry even more important for families.”
“The Flint Registry is connecting residents to the services they need to address the impact of lead on their health and is helping health providers monitor the health of these families. This important work should move forward so the families of Flint have the resources they need to continue recovering from this crisis,” said Senator Stabenow.
“While far too many families in Flint are still facing challenges due to lead exposure, we can continue mitigation by funding the Registry and providing critical wrap-around health and community support services,” said Senator Peters. “I am proud to help introduce this legislation that would ensure that the City of Flint and MSU can continue their efforts to not only better understand the impact of the crisis, but also usher in a brighter future for this resilient community.”
“The Flint Registry provides critical support for families and children as they deal with the lasting effects of lead exposure throughout their lives. The CDC has recognized the program as ‘a beacon of recovery’ for residents, and I am proud to work with Congressman Kildee and Michigan State University in bringing this program to fruition,” said Congressman John Moolenaar, Michigan’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, with oversight of funding for CDC programs. “I urge my colleagues in Congress to reauthorize this program and I will work on the Appropriations Committee to fund it in the years ahead.”
“As intended, the Flint Registry is already improving the health and development of individuals impacted by the Flint water crisis. To date, the Flint Registry has enrolled thousands of individuals, and completed over 9,000 referrals to critical support services. The built public health infrastructure of the Flint Registry continues to support Flint's long-term recovery, while also sharing best practices with similarly impacted communities. The Flint Registry Reauthorization Act will help ensure the Flint Registry can continue supporting the Flint community now and for many years to come,” said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, director of MSU-Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative.
Representatives John Moolenaar (MI-04), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Fred Upton (MI-06), Andy Levin (MI-09), Bill Huizenga (MI-02), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Tim Walberg (MI-07), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Haley Stevens (MI-11), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) are sponsoring this legislation in the House with Congressman Kildee.
The Flint Registry Reauthorization Act continues Congressman Kildee’s work on protecting Flint families that have been affected by the water crisis. In December 2016, Congress passed $170M in federal aid, championed by Congressman Kildee and Senators Stabenow and Peters , directed at helping Flint recover from the city’s ongoing water crisis, including the resources for today’s announced lead registry. President Obama signed the Flint aid package into law on December 16, 2016.
The bill is endorsed by the following organizations: American Public Health Association, Children's Environmental Health Network, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Environmental Working Group, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, United Steel Workers (USW), Earthjustice, Clean Water Action, Greater Flint Health Coalition, Coalition on Human Needs, McLaren Healthcare Corporation, Ascension Genesys Hospital, Michigan Health & Hospital Association, Mott Community College, Michigan State Council, United Auto Workers Region 1D,Mott Children's Health Center, Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, Genesee County Health Department, United Way of Genesee County, Hamilton Community Health Network, Genesee County Osteopathic Association, Genesee County Medical Society, Michigan Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, Office of Genesee County Sheriff, Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services, Family Service Agency of Mid-Michigan, NTEU Local 173, Michigan Climate Action Network, Freshwater Future, Child Care Network, Environment Michigan, MI Air MI Health, Michigan Chapter of the National Organization for Women, YWCA Greater Flint, Voices for Children Advocacy Center, Black Millennials 4 Flint, WOW Outreach, Calvary UMC, Latinos United for Flint, Genesee County Democratic Black Caucus, Church Without Walls, Heart of Worship Dance Studio, Neighborhoods Without Borders Crossover Downtown Outreach Ministry New Paths, Inc. Five Fold Ministry Christian Center Inc., Carriage Town Ministries, Circle Drive Neighborhood Assn. – Flint, Flint Women Study Community Action, The Disability Network, Michigan United Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church – Flint Levine Advisors LLC, Citizen Advocating United Together Inform Organize for New Direction (CAUTION), North Flint Neighborhood Action Council, Upper Room Missionary Baptist Church, Asbury Help Center, First Church of God, Zoe Counseling Services, Church Without Walls Ministries, Flint Neighborhoods United, Michigan Faith in Action, Sunrise Michigan, North Flint Neighborhood Action Council, Mt. Carmel MBC Flint, MI. & James E Kennedy Family Life Center, Reoccurring Abundance, Ecology Center, Flint Southwestern Classical Academy, Faith Deliverance Center Church, Higher Quality of Life Ministries, Flint Rising, Northside Soccer League, BeautyXchange.
Source: Congressman Dan Kildee