Press Releases

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) will join U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in Flint, Michigan, on Friday, March 4, 2016, for a ‘Speak Out’ event to hear directly from families affected by the city’s ongoing water crisis.

CBC Chairman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-05) will moderate the event with Flint families.  Following the ‘Speak Out’, Chairman Butterfield will join Congressman Kildee and Leader Pelosi for a press conference at 11:30 a.m. ET at Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church in Flint.

Members will spend the day in Flint to gain a better understanding of how exposure to lead contaminated water has impacted the city’s businesses and families and of the federal response to the water crisis.  There will be a briefing from Dr. Nicole Lurie, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about the ongoing federal response in Flint.  The city tour, ‘Speak Out’ with Flint families, and federal response briefing are closed to the press.

 “As elected officials, we all have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our constituents, and the officials in the State of Michigan have failed to do so.  State officials, including Governor Rick Snyder have made decisions that have caused irreparable harm to citizens, and particularly to over 9,000 children, for the rest of their lives,” said Chairman G. K. Butterfield.

# # #

Since its establishment in 1971, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) have joined together to empower America’s neglected citizens and address their legislative concerns.  For more than 40 years, the CBC has consistently been the voice for people of color and vulnerable communities in Congress and has been committed to utilizing the full Constitutional power and statutory authority of the United States government to ensure that all U.S. citizens have an opportunity to achieve the American Dream.  To learn more about the Congressional Black Caucus, visit http://cbc-butterfield.house.gov.

Media inquiries: Tyler Clifford at (202) 226-9776 or Tyler.Clifford@mail.house.gov