By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on Thursday extended a state of emergency in Flint until April 14, as the Michigan legislature gave final approval of $28 million to address the drinking water crisis.
Snyder's move approved by the state legislature means the state emergency declaration will continue as long as the federal emergency declaration issued earlier this month by President Barack Obama. The state declaration was originally set to end Feb. 1.
"The emergency response in the city of Flint has been critical to ensure every Flint family has access to bottled water, filters and testing kits," Snyder said. "Extending this emergency will help us continue these efforts while working on long-term solutions to help Flint recover."
Separately, Michigan Democrats in Congress said Thursday they want to win backing for up to $600 million in U.S. support of Flint. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters and Rep. Dan Kildee of Flint said they will offer an amendment to a pending Senate Energy bill that would provide up to $400 million to replace or fix lead pipes and other water infrastructure. The proposal would require the state of Michigan to match any federal funding.
The proposal would also direct $200 million in federal funds for a research center to focus on immediate and long term needs of children. It would also require the Environmental Protection Agency to warn the public of high lead levels in drinking water if a state fails to do so.
Peters said Democrats also want a change in the law to allow the federal government to forgive $20 million in loans to Flint.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the Obama administration does not have a position yet on the proposal, and was not aware of any plans to place Flint under some kind of special category.
Soul singer and Detroit native Aretha Franklin told MSNBC she was donating 50 hotel rooms nightly and money for food during the crisis, and has urged other Motown artists to help.
"The water being green and brown and, 'my God,' I said, it just reminds you of (Hurricane) Katrina, for one, all over again," she said.
U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra, speaking in Baltimore at a Democratic retreat, said someone should pay the price. "What went down in Flint should cause someone to have a rap sheet," he said. "There should be some indictments."
The $28 million approved by the state will be used to provide bottled water and other supplies, put nurses in local schools and more.
(Additional Reporting by Mary Wisniewski in Chicago, Ben Klayman and Serena Maria Daniels in Detroit, Doina Chiacu and Jeff Mason in Washington and Richard Cowan in Baltimore; Editing by Alistair Bell and Bernard Orr)