NEELEY

Rep. Sheldon Neeley, D-Flint, (speaking) addresses a crowd of water activists gathered to support safe, affordable water in Lansing on March 22, 2017.

(Emily Lawler | MLive.com)

LANSING, MI -- More than 100 activists gathered at the Capitol Wednesday in celebration of World Water Day, and the House of Representatives voted to send $100 million in federal funds to the city of Flint to help address its water crisis.

"This money is deeply needed for the city of Flint," said Rep. Phil Phelps, D-Flushing.

The Flint water crisis emerged when a water source switch lead to more corrosive water going through pipes, leaching lead out of the pipes and into the water supply. The neurotoxin is particularly dangerous to children. An unknown number of residents were exposed.

The state has dedicated $234 million at efforts to help the city recover. But the House of Representatives on Tuesday made an administrative move to send $100 million from the federal government over in House Bill 4329.

The $100 million will be used for water treatment plant improvements, service line and water meter replacements, distribution system upgrades, corrosion control and other infrastructure needs, according to detail provided by the House Fiscal Agency.

Rep. Sheldon Neeley, D-Flint, said that when people ask him about how the city's doing he's clear that the crisis isn't over.

"We're thirsty for safe water. We're thirsty for affordable water. We're thirsty for justice," Neeley said.

He and other representatives are seeking additional help for Flint. Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, is working on bills re-intrdocued from last session that treat water as a human right. Neeley is seeking mental health services for Flint residents exposed to trauma due to the crisis.

Also on Wednesday, more than 100 water activists gathered to hear from state representatives and hold a rally in support of safe, affordable water.

"We ain't gonna give up, we ain't gonna quit," Bishop Bernadel L. Jefferson of Faith Deliverance Center of Flint in a speech to those assembled.

People came from Flint, Detroit and Grand Rapids to advocate for water.

Detroit's water system provides water to several municipalities, and Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, D-Detroit, said a recent boil-water advisory didn't have enough details about affected locations.

"The residents across our state that rely on our city deserve fresh water, quality service and the right to be notified in a timely manner when concerns regarding safety arise," Gay-Dagnogo said.

The Flint funding was part of a supplemental funding bill that also sent $1 million to the state capitol for improvements and $3 million to Macomb County for repairs related to its sinkhole emergency.

Rep. Bill Sowerby, D-Clinton Twp., said immediate costs were $75 million and long-term costs related to the sinkhole were about $140 million, but the $3 million in state funding helped.

"This house bill today... will certainly help towards offsettings those overall costs," said Sowerby, who is also seeking additional assistance from the state.

The bill passed 101-7, with the following Representatives voting against it: Daniela Garcia, R-Holland; Jim Lilly, R-Park Twp.; Brett Roberts, R-Charlotte; Jim Runestad, R-White Lake Twp.; Mike McCready, R-Bloomfield Hills; Steven Johnson, R-Wayland; and Curt VanderWall, R-Ludington.

The bill heads next to the state Senate for approval.