Cummings Issues Statement on Hearing with Michigan Governor SNYDER on Flint Water Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jennifer Werner
February 12, 2016
(202) 226-5181

Cummings Issues Statement on
Hearing with Governor Snyder
on Flint Water Crisis

Washington, DC (Feb, 12, 2016)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement after the Chairman announced a hearing with Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to examine the Flint water crisis:

“I sincerely thank Chairman Chaffetz for agreeing to Democrats’ repeated request for Governor Snyder’s testimony. However, contrary to Governor Snyder’s recent claim that he requested this ‘opportunity to testify,’ the reality is that he is finally bowing to mounting public pressure to answer questions before Congress about the central and critical role his administration played in this man-made disaster. Unfortunately, Governor Snyder has failed to provide a single document in response to our request last month, despite today’s deadline and his multiple promises of accountability. It is critical for the Committee to have access to these documents before Governor Snyder testifies in order to do a thorough and complete investigation. If he continues to obstruct our investigation in this way, we may have to consider alternative measures to obtain the information he is withholding.”

The announcement of Snyder’s upcoming testimony came one day after Cummings wrote an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press entitled, “What does accountability mean to Snyder?”
Op-Ed: http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2016/02/11/us-rep-elijah-cummings-what-does-accountability-mean-snyder/80232846/

On January 29, 2016, Cummings and Rep. Brenda Lawrence sent a letter to Snyder seeking key documents relating to this crisis. Although the deadline for production was today, Snyder has remained silent and has not provided any documents in response to this request.
Letter: http://democrats.oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases/cummings-and-lawrence-request-documents-and-answers-from-michigan-governor-on

The request from Cummings and Lawrence sought documents the Governor has not released previously, including e-mails from 2013, when his own appointee signed off on the decision to use water from the Flint River.

On February 3, 2016, all 18 Democratic Committee Members sent a letter to Chaffetz officially invoking their right under House rules to demand a minority day of hearings with Governor Snyder and three key emergency managers he appointed.
Letter: http://democrats.oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases/all-oversight-committee-democrats-invoke-house-rules-to-demand-testimony-from