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Congressman leading Flint water crisis hearings visits city

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FLINT, Mich. — A U.S. House committee chairman leading hearings on the Flint water crisis sparked by lead contamination has visited the city.

Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the oversight panel, met with Flint Mayor Karen Weaver Saturday at the Flint water plant. He also attended a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency open house.

Chaffetz says the “system totally failed and people need to be held accountable.”

Weaver says she appreciated the visit and urges passage of a federal aid package for Flint.

The visit precedes more hearings starting Tuesday, in which Gov. Rick Snyder, former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley and EPA chief Gina McCarthy are set to testify.

State and federal officials have been criticized since the water supply was switched to the Flint River in 2014 to save money.

FOX 17 political reporter Josh Sidorowicz will be in Washington D.C. for coverage beginning Tuesday.