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Today, Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after pummeling EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Hearing titled, “Examining Federal Administration of the Safe Drinking Water Act in Flint, Michigan – Part III”:
“Not a single one of the actions taken by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy in the wake of the Flint water crisis proves she understands the seriousness of this catastrophe. We now know that EPA officials admitted in June of 2015 that Flint water had high levels of lead. Shamefully, the EPA failed to warn residents of this imminent danger.
“Despite claims that this is the most transparent administration in history, the EPA has utterly failed to cooperate with Congressional requests for documentation relating to the Flint water crisis. The EPA is actively blocking Americans from uncovering the full truth about this disaster. This dishonesty is the latest in a long list of fraudulent behavior from a rogue agency beholden to no one.
“I first called for Administrator McCarthy to be impeached in September of last year for committing perjury and lying to Congress. Her response to the crisis in Flint further proves that she has got to go. Even Democrats agree!”
Background:
(Courtesy of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform)
Prior to April 2014, the city of Flint, Michigan received its drinking water from the City of Detroit’s system. In the months following the switch, the Flint River water began testing high in chloride levels, which caused it to be highly corrosive. One serious effect of corrosion is that it causes water pipes made of lead to leach into the water. Furthermore, the water tested positive for disease-carrying bacteria.
Reports indicated that the EPA, which has oversight over state and local water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act, had known about contamination as early as June of 2015, detailed in an internal EPA memo. The EPA finally invoked its authority under the SDWA to intervene in the Flint water crisis on January 21, 2016.
EPA Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman announced her resignation effective February 1, 2016 and the EPA Office of Inspector General launched an investigation into the crisis. The Committee previously examined mismanagement at the EPA with hearings held April 30 and July 29 in 2015.
Additional Background:
In an article published on January 20, 2016, National Review highlighted the hypocrisy of those blaming Republicans and state officials for the Flint water crisis stating, “In sum: The Democratic government of a Democratic city destroys that city’s finances so thoroughly that it must go into state receivership; a Democratic emergency manager signs off on a consensus plan to use a temporary water source; the municipal authorities in that Democratic city responsible for treating and monitoring drinking water fail to do their job; a state agency whose employees work under the tender attention of SEIU Local 517 fails to do its job overseeing the local authorities; Barack Obama’s EPA, having been informed about the issue, keeps mum.”
At the hearing, Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called for McCarthy’s resignation.
Congressman Gosar introduced H.RES.417 on September 11, 2015, with 20 other members of Congress, which begins the impeachment process for Gina McCarthy after she committed perjury and made several false statements at multiple congressional hearings, and as a result, is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors. More information about H.RES.417 can be found HERE.
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