Kildee, White House officials tout $213M in federal funding for clean water in Michigan

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) on Friday welcomed representatives from the White House and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to discuss increased funding for water infrastructure.

Kildee hosted Mitch Landrieu, White House infrastructure coordinator and senior advisor to the president; Debra Shore, the regional administrator for the Environmental Protections Agency; and EGLE Director Liesl Clark in Saginaw to discuss the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s impact on Michigan.

At the event, Kildee announced more than $212 million in federal funds to improve water infrastructure and ensure clean drinking water in Michigan. He also announced a $15 million grant to the city of Saginaw for a new water tower. 

Kildee is running for reelection on Nov. 8 against Republican Paul Junge.

Michigan will receive $212.9 million in federal funding in its second installment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for water infrastructure. The money will be used to remove lead pipes, update water infrastructure and protect drinking water from harmful PFAS contamination. It will also be used to prevent flooding and improve wastewater collection and treatment to protect important waterways. 

“In the richest country in the world, access to safe, affordable and reliable drinking water should be a right,” Kildee said.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering for mid-Michigan by improving our water infrastructure, ensuring access to clean drinking water and creating thousands of good-paying union jobs. In Congress, I will continue working to bring federal resources home to mid-Michigan,” he said.

Kildee led efforts to include funding for lead service line removal in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. He also introduced a bipartisan effort to protect families living in federally assisted housing from lead exposure, and has previously introduced legislation to set a national drinking water standard for PFAS, as well as other efforts targeting PFAS contamination.