<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - Clarion Ledger gets Jackson water tested"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Federal lawmakers took a closer look at Jackson's water and sewer issues that have led to recent federal and state intervention.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Unfunded infrastructure mandates, environmental justice, water equity, and climate change were among the topics discussed Wednesday during a <a target="_blank" href="https://homeland.house.gov/" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">Congressional Homeland Security Committee</a> hearing, with Jackson's water crisis at the center of the discussion.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Led by <a target="_blank" href="https://benniethompson.house.gov/" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">Rep. Bennie Thompson</a>, D-Mississippi, the hearing focused on what is needed for cities like Jackson to be prepared for future infrastructure issues rather than just focusing on fixing the problem at hand.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">In the courts:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/news/2022/09/19/jackson-ms-water-crisis-class-action-lawsuit-brought-against-city/69504449007/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|spike click:4|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Class-action lawsuit brought against Jackson regarding water crisis</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">He emphasized the nation is suffering simultaneous disasters, from the wildfires in the western U.S. to the typhoon in Alaska and the <a target="_blank" href="/story/news/nation/2022/09/20/puerto-rico-hurricane-fiona-maria/10435384002/" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">hurricane in Puerto Rico</a>. Add to that the flooding in Jackson that caused the city's water system to fail, leaving more than 100,000 people without clean water.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">"It hit close to home," Thompson said.</p><figure class="gnt_em gnt_em_img"><img class="gnt_em_img_i" style="height:446px" data-g-r="lazy" data-gl-src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/09/02/PJAM/8843ed9e-4141-4899-b9d5-4c9369c49d50-220902-LKENNEDY-123.jpg?width=660&height=446&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" data-gl-srcset="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/09/02/PJAM/8843ed9e-4141-4899-b9d5-4c9369c49d50-220902-LKENNEDY-123.jpg?width=1320&height=892&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="Rep. Benny Thompson (D) speaks during a press conference at Grove Park Community Center in Jackson, Miss., on Sep. 2, 2022. "/></figure><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Thompson said a lot of times when money is earmarked for infrastructure improvements, it goes toward more affluent areas, leaving communities of color and low-income areas in disarray. In addition, people of color tend to be impacted more by natural disasters.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“As the recent water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, has highlighted, federal policy to secure the resilience of the nation’s critical water infrastructure must include consideration of environmental justice, water equity, and...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2022/09/22/bennie-thompson-talks-about-jackson-water-at-homeland-security-hearing/69508307007/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
