The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. February 4, 2016 Congressional Hearing Blasts Michigan & EPA for Handling of Flint Water Crisis ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A congressional hearing was held Wednesday to probe lead poisoning in the water supply of Flint, Michigan. Lawmakers sharply criticized both state officials as well as the Environmental Protection Agency. The crisis began began after an unelected emergency manager appointed by Republican Governor Rick Snyder switched the source of Flint's drinking water to the corrosive Flint River. Committee Democrats criticized the Republican leadership for not inviting Snyder to testify. Flint resident Lee Anne Walters, who helped expose the lead poisoning, testified at the hearing. Lee Anne Walters: "The citizens in Flint are relying on each of you, because we have no choice. We trust no one but Virginia Tech. There are people in Flint today still not being assisted during this crisis-illegal immigrants, disabled and shut-ins. Broken policy and procedures are smothering the outcry of an entire community suffering financially, physically, mentally and emotionally." .