mr. walberg: mr. vitiello. did i get that right? mr. vitiello: yes, correct. i heard the same thing. it varies by city and the capacity that the department of justice has to schedule and notice those hearings. ms. acer: i'm sorry to be -- can i weigh in on the immigration courts because we've been recommended -- we just issued a report on the need to adequately fund the immigration courts to bring down those backlogs and delays. mr. walberg: so your contention is funding? ms. acer: yeah. that's a major need is funding for the immigration courts. thank you. mr. walberg: let me ask mr. judd. are there any efforts to keep track of the whereabouts of the individuals that are waiting these lengthy time frame court hearings? mr. judd: not that i'm aware of. all they need to do is provide an address and it can be an obscure address. for instance, in the mid 2000's we were arresting a large number of brazilians in the sue son sector. a large -- tucson sector. a large number were giving us the same address. mr

mr. walberg: mr. vitiello. did i get that right? mr. vitiello: yes, correct. i heard the same thing. it varies by city and the capacity that the department of justice has to schedule and notice those hearings. ms. acer: i'm sorry to be -- can i weigh in on the immigration courts because we've been recommended -- we just issued a report on the need to adequately fund the immigration courts to bring down those backlogs and delays. mr. walberg: so your contention is funding? ms. acer: yeah. that's a major need is funding for the immigration courts. thank you. mr. walberg: let me ask mr. judd. are there any efforts to keep track of the whereabouts of the individuals that are waiting these lengthy time frame court hearings? mr. judd: not that i'm aware of. all they need to do is provide us an address and it can be an obscure address. for instance, in the mid 2000's we were arresting a large number of brazilians in the tucson sector and a large number of these brazilians were giving us the exact same addres

mr. walberg: mr. mccraw, how are the administration's efforts or enforcement priorities and release policies affecting your organization? mr. mccraw: clearly we're concerned. the governor expressed his concern about the potential syrian refugees coming to texas. there's no adequate way to properly vet them and that's a concern from a national security standpoint. and he's made it clear. we're concerned to see transnational gangs, criminal aliens, cartel, cartel operatives and drugs, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine infiltrate texas and really throughout the nation. you're not allowed to do what you're able to do and i would assume, mr. vitiello, as well? mr. mccraw: the problem is it hasn't been properly resourced over the decades. bottom line is border security hasn't been a priority, not been a concern as it relates to multiple administrations. in today's threat environment, you can't afford not to be concerned about border security. it impacts texas, public safety impact. it impacts us from a natio

mr. walberg for 5 minutes. >> i will certainly take that to heart. i want to thank you for the intentional method by which you carry on these investigations and these hearings. mr. chairman, you do not have to do it, but you have done it well. i am a proud michigander. this is a problem. but i am proud of michigan. governor snyder, we appreciate you voluntarily coming today. we appreciate you voluntary releasing your emails so they can be part of the record. we appreciate the fact that you are willing to answer tough questions that this committee will offer today and outline the steps you are taking to solve the crisis and help flint recover. because we want flint to recover. it is a great city. it has great workers. i have driven great cars made in flint. i've had the opportunity to look into the eyes of flint citizens who experienced this human made tragedy. governor, when did you first sincef the instances -- his of legionnaires disease in flint? gov. snyder: in terms of legionnaires, i did not learn about until 2016. as soon as i became aware of

mr. walberg. >> i thank the gentleman from ohio. let's go a little bit different track. i'd like to come back to ms. hedman again. but initially, first, epa finally actively intervened in flint in late january 2016. mr. edwards or dr. edwards, in the last few months what steps have been taken to make flint's water lead free? i saw you there saturday. i saw you talking with residents, talking about filters and all of the rest. what steps have been taken? >> they have switched back the detroit water. epa has implemented very good corrosion control effective december. we believe the lead levels are dropping dramatically, as the pipe coating is reestablished. and we are currently sampling with flint residents, last week, to see house by house how much lower lead levels are now, and it's our hypothesis that lead is about four times better now than it was back during the height of the lead poisoning incidents in flint neighborhoods. >> how long do you think it will take for, reasonably speaking, for flint's water to be safe? >> in order to meet existing federal standards, whic

mr. walberg. as we start this, i remind members we have votes that have been earlier today. i need everybody to stick to the five minutes so we can get the maximum number of people to participate. these people have pressing schedules as well. i will start by recognizing mr. walberg for 5 minutes. >> i will certainly take that to heart. i want to thank you for the intentional method by which you carry on these investigations and these hearings. mr. chairman, you do not have to do it, but you have done it well. i am a proud michigander. this is a problem. but i am proud of michigan. governor snyder, we appreciate you voluntarily coming today. we appreciate you voluntary releasing your emails so they can be part of the record. we appreciate the fact that you are willing to answer tough questions that this committee will offer today and outline the steps you are taking to solve the crisis and help flint recover. because we want flint to recover. it is a great city. it has great workers. i have driven

mr. walberg is next, gentleman from michigan. >> thank you, mr. chairman. and apologize for being out but rosie the riveter showed at the capital and i wanted to say hi to four of them from my district. interesting issue because it does affect all of us. and my district in southeast, south central michigan, has tremendous challenges there. and i appreciate the efforts that all of you have shown toward this issue. mr. milione, how long has the dea been aware of the increased prevalence of the drugs, and how are you responding to this problem, specifically? >> thank you for the question. we've been aware of fentanyl going back a number of years and seen its increasing use and seeing it flood the country. what are we doing? basically what we do with all our criminal investigations. we look to target the worst of the worst. criminal trafficking organizations. identify them, infiltrate them, indict them, capture and convict them. we're trying to educate our state and locals about the risks associated with fentanyl. it's a multiprong approach. it's definitely som

mr. walberg: she also helped lead the effort to restore the beautiful tibits opera house and a passionateate for this iconic theater. on the e rode there back of my harley. she will turn 101 in june. continue to be inspired by her lifelong service to the community. this women's history month and every month we say thank you to women like mary smith who have made invaluable contributions to michigan, this country, and made our state a better place to live. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan rise? >> mr. speaker, i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to acknowledge an outstanding pharmacist in my district, beverly. a resident of rochester hills, she has recently been named the 2016 pharmacist of the year by the michigan society of community pharmacists. this is a huge honor and beverly is actually the first pharmacist from my district to be awarded this prestig

mr. walberg make important comments in that regard. mr. early, you wrote a column for the detroit news in october 2015, is that correct? >> yes, that is correct. >> mr. chairman i would like unanimous consent to enter this into the record. >> without objection. >> you make clear today and in your column that your decision to switch over to the flint river was made by the previous emergency manager in the city council is that correct? >> that is correct. >> in your op-ed, you say it felt to me to oversee the implementation, correct question work mark. >> correct. >> also in your op-ed it says it did not fall to me to question, second-guess or validate the actions taken place prior to my appointment. you really believe that? is. >> i believe that based on the fact that there is no petition, no effort made to engage me to change what had already been implemented. >> sorry, so you believe is an emergency manager, someone, someone was put in charge of the city of flint, it does not fall on you to question, second-guess or validate any actions t

mr. earley, you wrote a column walberg, made many important points in that regard. m going to ask some questions to mr. earley. mr. earley, you wrote a column for "the detroit news," in october 2015, is that correct? >> that is correct, sir. >> mr. chairman, i would like to ask unanimous consent to enter this op-ed into the order. >> without objection. so ordered. >> you have made clear here today and in your column that the decision to switch over to the flint river was made by the previous emergency manager and the city council, correct? >> that is correct. >> in your op-ed, you say it fell to me to oversee the implementation, correct? >> that is correct. >> now, also in your op-ed it says, it did not fall to me to question, second-guess or invalidate the actions taken prior to my appointment. do you really believe that? >> i believe that based on the fact that there was no petition. there was no effort made to engage me to change what had already been implemented. when -- >> i'm sorry. >> so you believe as an emergency manager, someone put in charge of the city of