The people of Flint, Michigan, could soon find major assistance from the U.S. Senate. Led by Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, some Democrats are pushing for an amendment to a bipartisan energy bill that would provide as much as $400 million in emergency aid and infrastructure aid and provide funds for the creation of a Center of Excellence on Lead Exposure to help assist the longterm needs of Flint citizens exposed to lead. Bloomberg reports:
The energy legislation, S. 2012, which is backed by Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, and the panel’s top Democrat, Maria Cantwell of Washington, would encourage energy efficiency upgrades of schools, speed up licensing of hydroelectric power projects and permits for liquid natural gas exports.
Senate Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reidof Nevada called it "a good bill" last week. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said it was "the latest reminder of what’s possible with cooperation in this Senate."
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Democrats led by Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters unveiled plans Thursday to try to amend the bill to include as much as $400 million in federal emergency funding to help replace or fix Flint’s lead-tainted water supply infrastructure. Their amendment’s provisions also include creating a Center of Excellence on Lead Exposure to focus on the needs of those exposed to lead -- and providing $200 million in funding over 10 years for the center.
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"Any amendment that costs money," Murkowski said Thursday on the Senate floor. "You’re going to need to find a viable offset in order for us to consider it."
Durbin said Thursday that Democrats were "still waiting" to see if any Republicans would sign on to the Flint amendment. Stabenow said she’s spoken to Murkowski, and that she was supportive of some of the Flint amendment provisions.
Another key amendment that many are proposing to add to the bill is an aid package to assist Puerto Rico’s debt crisis. Puerto Rico is over $70 billion in debt and has been downgraded by most creditors to below investment grade. Both of these proposed amendments figure to add some uncertainty to the process of passing a bill with bipartisan support. While Murkowski is reportedly receptive of the spirit of the amendment, the caveat—that the spending must be offset—could be a major roadblock for passage. While some Senate Republicans say they would like to do something for Flint, the stipulation of a cost offset allows for Republicans to do nothing with no political cost attached.