With a State of Emergency declaration in the city of Flint, there can finally be action taken on the water crisis in the city using state resources and funding. The House Democrats have been calling for this action for months, since it became clear that Flint children have been harmed by drinking lead-tainted city water, with no movement made at the highest state levels until recently. With this declaration, along with the resignation of Dan Wyant as the head of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, steps are finally being taken.

Now, we must turn our attention to doing what we can to make sure the state never fails in their oversight of Michigan’s communities. The health and safety of residents, both now and in the long-term, have been ignored for far too long in the city of Flint and many other areas facing water problems. The access to clean, affordable water is a human right that should never be questioned.

To learn more about the Flint water crisis, please read the following: