Featured photo: Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), taken by Tanya Terry
FLINT— On Friday, February 6, Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) celebrated securing impactful support for Flint residents affected by the Water Crisis in the FY 2026 Health and Human Services Budget, which was signed into law by President Trump.
“Over a decade after a generational failure poisoned thousands of Flint residents, the victims still live with the consequences, and most haven’t received a dime of their damages from the settlement fund. It is unacceptable, and I am fighting every day to get them the justice they’re owed,” said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet. “We fought to get these two provisions in the Health and Human Services budget – funding for the Flint Registry and protecting settlement dollars from being taken by the government – as small steps in that direction, and I am glad that we were able to work with Republicans and Democrats together to get them done.”
“Full funding for the Flint Registry is a critical milestone for the long-term care for this community,” said Nicole Jones, PhD, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator of the Flint Registry. “This investment allows us to sustain the work of tracking health outcomes, supporting families, and turning the lessons of Flint into lasting change.”
The two key provisions are detailed below:
Securing full funding for the Flint Registry: The Congresswoman led a bipartisan coalition of members in securing a $5 million allocation for the Flint Registry. The Registry has led the community response to the Water Crisis and has become a national model for addressing lead exposure, tracking long-term health effects, and helping victims identify the care and treatment they need. The bipartisan coalition advocated to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the Administration for this funding.
Protecting settlement dollars from being taken by the federal government: The Congresswoman advocated for the inclusion of a provision which deters the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from taking any actions that delay or reduce payouts to residents from the Flint Settlement Fund.
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