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U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) released the following statement on House passage of a continuing resolution that funds the government through April 2017, and the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. The WIIN Act authorizes $170 million in aid to Flint, while the continuing resolution appropriates the funding.

“I am pleased that today, the House finally came together to provide resources to help address the water crisis in Flint. Flint families have been living a nightmare for more than two years and are still unable to turn on their taps without worrying about lead exposure. They have waited long enough, and while neither of the bills we passed today is perfect, they provide the critical resources Flint needs to begin to recover from this horrific man-made crisis and address the contaminated public drinking water system. I’d like to thank Dan Kildee and Fred Upton for their bipartisan leadership in ensuring aid for Flint families was included in these packages. We always help our fellow Americans during a time of need, and helping Flint is the right and decent thing to do – and we shouldn’t have to pay a ransom to get it done. 

“Yet this is exactly what we are being asked to do in both of these bills. While I am pleased that the WIIN Act also includes bipartisan legislation I introduced to support fish and wildlife restoration in the Great Lakes, I have serious concerns about a provision to address the drought in California that would weaken critical Endangered Species Act protections. It is also disappointing that Congress once again departed from regular order by failing to pass a budget or appropriation bills this year and is instead funding the government though a short-term continuing resolution. Our government should not be run on auto-pilot. The continuing resolution does not provide certainty to families or businesses, and fails to adequately address a critical problem that threatens pensions for miners and their families. Working men and women deserve better. 

“While there are parts of these packages I do not support, we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Passing these bills will avoid a government shutdown and provide vital resources for Flint families, who need and deserve our support. We cannot turn our backs on the people of Flint in this time of need, which is why these bills have my support.”