‘Water is a human right,’ Democrats say…

…with new bills addressing Flint crisis, Detroit shutoffs

Photo: State Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, introduces a package of water quality and affordability bills on November 12, 2015.

LANSING, MI — Flint mom Melissa Mays believes her three sons are starting to struggle in school because they drank contaminated city water, and she’s worried the full effect of lead poisoning, which can cause irreversible brain damage, will not be known for years.

"Something that is supposed to nourish us and keep us alive was treated as a commodity — the quality was ignored, the signs were ignored," Mays said Thursday. "What we’re seeing is a complete disregard for human life, human safety and the future of our children."

Mays, who has become a leading water activist in the midst of her city’s public health crisis, joined lawmakers at the Michigan Capitol as they announced a new package of bills to address water quality and affordability issues in Flint and other parts of the state.

"There’s a moral goal here," said Rep. Sheldon Neeley, D-Flint, urging the Snyder administration to consider the package. Neeley plans to introduce legislation that would require the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to collect water samples using federally-approved procedures. His […]

Full article: ‘Water is a human right,’ Democrats say with new bills addressing Flint crisis, Detroit shutoffs