Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield) announced on Thursday, that the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold hearings on the Flint water crisis.  The expected hearing date is February 3 and it’s anticipated that Governor Rick Snyder will be asked to provide testify.  Congresswoman Lawrence, who is a member of the committee, has requested that in addition to the Governor, the committee call former Michigan Department of Environmental Quality director Dan Wyant and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver to provide testimony.  However, the chair of the committee, Republican Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, hasn’t yet publically stated the committee will hold such a hearing.  In addition to Congresswoman Lawrence, there are two other members of the Michigan delegation that sit on the committee; Congressman Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) and Congressman Justin Amash (R-Cascade Township).

On Thursday it was announced that the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) Midwest region, Susan Hedman, has resigned effective February 1.  It’s been reported that she down played an EPA memo outlining tests results showing high level lead in the city’s water.  In a statement, Congressman Chaffetz stated the “EPA is rife with incompetence and Region 5 is no exception.  Mismanagement has plagued the region for far too long and Ms. Hedman’s resignation is way overdue.”

Additionally on Thursday, the EPA stated that the City of Flint and the State of Michigan didn’t take adequate steps to protect the resident’s health and ordered data be provided to them.  The EPA also stated the state must following the recommendations made by an agency task force, solicit the advice of nationally recognized experts, and guarantee Flint has professional assistance needed to safely operate the water system, amongst other directives.

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