WASHINGTON D.C. (WKZO-AM) — A bill drafted in part by a southwest Michigan congressman has been approved by the U.S. House that would speed and clarify the process the Environmental Protection Agency uses to notify cities about dangerous lead levels in drinking their water.
It passed with near-unanimous support on Wednesday.
It was sponsored by Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, and Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph.
“When the EPA is aware of this, they’re going to fess up,” Upton said. “They’re going to reach out to the state, let people know and develop a plan.”
Upton said, if another lead crisis were to occur anywhere else in the country, the clarification will stop bickering before it starts.
“There’s a lot of finger-pointing at all levels of government, there’s no question about it,” Upton said. “But, this is something that, I think, will unite us.”
It’s the first legislative response to the crisis in Flint by Congress. A similar bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
– Anthony Pollreisz
