WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has approved a plan to provide $170 million to help Flint, Michigan, rebuild its lead-poisoned water system.
Wednesday’s 284-141 vote came nearly a year after Michigan officials declared a public health emergency in the city.
The Senate approved $220 million for Flint and other communities with lead contamination two weeks ago. The effort went nowhere in the Republican-run House until Speaker Paul Ryan and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi struck a deal late Tuesday.
Because the Flint money was stalled, Senate Democrats had derailed a must-pass bill to avert a government shutdown this weekend. They relented after Ryan and Pelosi reached their agreement on Flint.
Congress will have to approve separate legislation actually providing the Flint money when it returns after the November elections.
