FLINT – Senator Debbie Stabenow received the Key to the City from the City of Flint today for her lifetime of service to our state and her decades of leadership improving the lives of the people of Flint 

“The City of Flint has a rich, vibrant, and resilient history. Throughout my career in the Senate, the city has been such a critical partner,” said Senator Stabenow. “We’ve worked side-by-side to make sure Flint receives the resources it needs and the investments the people of Flint deserve. I am so honored to receive the Key to the City.” 

“Senator Stabenow has had a remarkable career of service,” said Mayor Sheldon Neeley. “She has worked tirelessly for the people of Michigan and her work has directly benefited the people of Flint. She helped to secure funding to provide free summer meals for school children, she worked to expand early head start in Flint, and she had a key role in bringing millions of dollars in funds and resources to help Flint recover from the water crisis. She has done so much, and this is our way of saying thank you and letting her know Flint appreciates her efforts.” 

Senator Stabenow led the Senate response and worked with Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-08) and the Obama Administration to address the Flint water crisis. She led the effort to secure $170 million for Flint and other communities to repair and replace pipes and provide health care and nutritious food to children and families affected by lead contamination. These efforts included the expansion of Medicaid, lead poisoning prevention, and healthy summer meals. Stabenow also led the effort during the water crisis to ensure that Flint families had access to ready-to-feed formula through the WIC program and increased access to fruits, vegetables, and milk. 

As the “go-to” leader in the U.S. Senate on issues protecting the health and well-being of children and families, Senator Stabenow has been a strong champion for Rx Kids, a program that helps address poverty and invest in our kids’ health and futures. 

Senator Stabenow won a hard-fought battle against great odds in 2016 to secure millions in additional funds for blight removal in Flint, Detroit, and other cities across Michigan. This major infusion of funds has transformed struggling neighborhoods and spurred economic growth in communities across the state. She also helped secure resources to support homeowner assistance in Flint, Chevy Commons in Flint, Bishop Airport, and fire departments in Flint. 

As Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, her 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills supported the Genesee County region’s agriculture industry - sugar beets, soybeans, dry beans, corn, dairy and specialty crops - through a stronger farm safety net, research and better access to new domestic and international markets. She has created more opportunities for food entrepreneurs and urban farmers, like the expansion of farmer’s markets across Michigan, including the Flint Farmers Market. 

Senator Stabenow established and later expanded the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, known as Double Up Food Bucks in Michigan, which helps eligible Flint families double their purchases of fruits, vegetables, and milk. She also established the nationwide Summer EBT program so families can receive a grocery benefit to buy food over the summer when school is out, the first permanent nationwide Congressional investment in children nutrition in over 10 years. 

As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Manufacturing Caucus, Senator Stabenow championed policies to support our automakers and manufacturers. She also assisted in the revitalization of and expansion to the manufacturing capabilities of Buick City. 

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