President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2016 -- President Barack Obama next week will make his first trip to Flint, Michigan since the city was found to have lead-tainted drinking water, the White House said today.
Obama is due to receive a briefing on the federal effort to assist in the cleanup and to hear directly from Flint residents during his trip.
The White House announced Obama's trip by posting online a letter the president wrote to Flint resident Amariyanna "Mari" Copeny, the 8-year-old activist known as "Little Miss Flint." Copeny wrote to the president to tell him she was coming to Washington to push lawmakers to do more for her city and requested a meeting with the Obamas.
In a letter dated April 25, Obama responded by telling Copeny that he wanted her to be first to know about his visit. He told her he hoped to meet her and promised to "use my voice to call for change and help lift up your community."
"I want to make sure people like you and your family are receiving the help you need and deserve," Obama wrote.
