Officials from East Chicago, IN testified in favor of two proposed bills to bring more aid to the city to combat its lead crisis.

The City of East Chicago informed residents last week that the Pence administration denied the request for an emergency declaration.

Four state lawmakers from northwest Indiana want state aid for the lead contaminated Calumet neighborhood of East Chicago.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary-designate Ben Carson was answering a question from U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.

The new allocation from the state's Blight Elimination Program can only be used to tear down vacant structures that were "beyond repair" during a prior review.

Mayor Anthony Copeland sent letters to Gov. Mike Pence and Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb requesting additional resources for the lead contaminated Calumet neighborhood.

City Utilities Director Greg Crowley says the elevated levels are likely related to EPA clean up activities in the Calumet neighborhood.

The city is already grappling with lead in the soil around homes inside its EPA Superfund, but the EPA says that isn't the source of the lead in the tap water.

A complaint has been settled by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to give current and former East Chicago residents more time, money to relocate.

The EPA will begin removing lead contaminated soil from 13 yards this fall.