Speaking on the 10-year anniversary of President Barack Obama declaring a federal emergency in Flint in response to the Flint water crisis on January 16, 2016, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin said the water crisis settlement payments some residents have finally begun receiving are “unacceptably small.”
Slotkin noted that most residents have still not seen any money from the settlement and also noted that language around how to apply for settlements, timelines, and other information was “vague” and “always changing.”
“Estimated amounts of initial payments are unacceptably small,” Slotkin said. “After all they’ve (Flint residents) endured over the past decade, the community is being denied what little they were promised. That should make every American furious.”
Obama declared a federal state of emergency after months of pressure that started with residents and community activists, who began noticing problems with Flint’s water immediately after an emergency manager appointed by then-Gov. Rick Snyder made a cost-saving decision to switch drinking water sources in Flint from Lake Huron to the Flint River. River water is more corrosive and requires a more stringent treatment process than lake water to prevent lead leaching from old pipes into the water supply. Those protocols were not followed, and approximately 100,000 residents in the city were exposed to lead, with many experiencing symptoms of lead poisoning.
In particular, Slotkin noted the impact of lead poisoning, which is incurable, on children. In addition to health problems, lead poisoning can also cause things like ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood swings, learning disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Slotkin shared stories of Flint activists Melissa Mays, Brittany Thomas, and LeeAnne Walters in her speech, promising to always fight and advocate for Flint as one of Michigan’s Senators.
Slotkin also specifically called out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Although she said that settlement dollars from civil lawsuits that included the state, city, and engineering firms involved in the crisis were insufficient, she did note that at least that litigation was completed. The EPA lawsuit has not moved forward as lawyers have argued the cases should be dismissed. Michigan Radio reported in December of 2025 that there’s a chance the lawsuits could move forward in 2026.
“More than a decade later, the EPA is denying, deflecting, and dragging out this case in court,” Slotkin said, while noting that President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden both had the ability to settle these cases without Congress. “They (the EPA) should take their day in court or settle fairly.”
Slotkin also highlighted how the work community activists in Flint have done for water safety everywhere, pointing out that in 2018, Michigan became the first state to require replacement of all lead pipes in public drinking water infrastructure.
“Flint’s advocacy changed more than just the water source (in Flint), it changed Michigan,” Slotkin said, noting that Michigan has since had bipartisan elected officials pushing for stricter regulation of PFAS, chemical contamination in water, river pollution, and other critical water supply issues. “Michiganders see ourselves as stewards of America’s water no matter where it flows, and it’s no exaggeration to say Flint changed our country.”
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