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Senate Democrats push to address Flint water crisis

Grayling Stefek, 5, has his blood drawn during a free lead testing event and family fun night for children on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, at Eisenhower Elementary school in Flint, Mich. Free water filters were available to families during the event, along with food, refreshments, immunizations, crafts, and a smoothie making bicycle. (Conor Ralph/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP) Grayling Stefek, 5, has his blood drawn during a free lead testing event and family fun night for children on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, at Eisenhower Elementary school in Flint, Mich. Free water filters were available to families during the event, along with food, refreshments, immunizations, crafts, and a smoothie making bicycle. (Conor Ralph/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP)

By Associated Press January 27, 2016 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Democrats say they will push to address the water crisis in Flint, Michigan as part of a bipartisan energy bill being debated in the Senate.

Sen Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, says Democratic Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan will seek to amend the energy bill to “protect children from water that is deadly or poisonous.”

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said Michigan’s Republican governor, Rick Snyder, tried to “save a few bucks with the water and, in the process, poisoned lots of people.”

State officials switched from Detroit’s water supply to the Flint River in 2014 to save money. Lead from pipes leached into the water supply, contributing to a spike in child lead exposure.