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Federal money for Flint inches closer

A crew replacing a lead service line in Flint.
steve carmody
/
Michigan Radio
Crews have replaced nearly 200 service lines this month.

Congress is closer to giving Flint tens of millions of dollars to fix its lead-tainted tap water system.

Before it left town on Wednesday, the U.S. House approved a water infrastructure spending bill. The bill was amended yesterday to include $170 million for Flint.

The House approved its version of the Water Resources Development Act by a vote of 284 to 141.

"The passage of WRDA in the House is a critical step to ensuring that Flint families get the resources they need to recover from this crisis,” said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint. “I will not stop fighting until it reaches the president’s desk,”

The U.S. Senate has already passed its own version of the WRDA bill, which includes $220 million for Flint.  

A House and Senate conference committee will have to work out differences between two versions of the same bill.  Final action on the bill will have to wait until after the November election.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver says she’s encouraged that Congress approved a deal to deliver federal aid to Flint. 

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
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