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On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed PFAS Employment Act 2021, a bill, if passed by the US Senate, that would improve regulation and make it easier to clean up per- and polyfluoroalkyl – long-acting synthetic chemicals that pose a threat to public and environmental health.
HR 2467, submitted by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) in April, Passed successfully By a margin of 241-183. Twenty-three Republicans joined nearly every Democrat in supporting the bill to protect people and ecosystems from harmful PFAS, also known aschemicals forever“Because it persists and bioaccumulates for years on end. Five Republicans and Representative Mike Doyle (D-Penn) abstained.
After Wednesday’s vote, Dingell said, “We are one step closer to protecting Americans’ health from these toxic chemicals forever.”
PFAS chemicals are an urgent public health threat.
with pass #PFASAction Acting today, we’re one step closer to protecting Americans’ health and our environment from these toxic chemicals forever. pic.twitter.com/R9yAn48fSc
Rep. Debbie Dingell (@RepDebDingell) July 21, 2021
Mary Grant, director of the Public Water for All Campaign at Food and Water Watch, applauded The House “to pass this important legislation to finally begin to regulate toxic chemicals from PFAS and prevent contamination of drinking water.”
“There is no more time to delay when it comes to enacting a comprehensive plan to remove these chemicals from our drinking water with enforceable regulations, ensuring[ing] “The biggest polluters are responsible for cleaning up their rampant pollution,” Grant said in a statement.
Researchers have linked long-term exposure to PFAS to several health problems, including cancerAnd reproductive harmAnd immune system damage, and others serious issues.
Despite the significant risks and adverse effects associated with PFAS toxicity, contamination is widespread after decades of inadequate regulation.
Earlier this month, previously unpublished internal records show up that former President Barack Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowed oil and gas companies to inject fluids containing PFAS, or chemicals that can degrade into PFAS, into fracking sites, dangerous Groundwater in multiple states.
Analysis released Tuesday by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Found Forever Chemicals is in nearly 2,800 communities nationwide, including 2,411 drinking water networks and 238 military facilities.
to me Food and Water Monitoring, “PFAS is found in the blood of 97% of people in the United States and in breast milk.” In addition, a study reviewed by scientists at the EWG was conducted last October have found That more than 200 million people across the country could have PFAS in their drinking water at a concentration of one part per trillion, or higher.
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“PFOS contamination has grown at an alarming rate and poses a serious public health threat,” Brian Runholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said in a statement. “We’ve known for decades that PFAS is toxic at very low doses, yet the EPA has failed to take action to protect the public.”
Ronholm added: “This bill will help reduce harmful exposure to these hazardous chemicals by requiring strict standards to keep PFAS out of air and water and facilitating the cleanup of contaminated sites that pollute communities and endanger our health.”
PFAS Labor Code will Requires The Environmental Protection Agency to create national drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS, the two most studied chemicals forever, within two years.
Other provisions of the bill require the EPA to determine whether other PFAS should be classified as toxic pollutants under the Clean Water Act, to set standards to reduce unloading From PFAS from industrial sources, to provide $200 million annually to support water utilities and wastewater treatment facilities.
Additionally, the bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up toxic sites. Within one year, the PFOA and PFOS will be classified as hazardous under the Superfund program, and the EPA will have five years to determine whether the remaining PFAS should be listed as a hazardous substance that requires environmental remediation.
Within 180 days, the EPA would also be required to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, and the agency would have five years to list the additional PFAS as hazardous air pollutants.
As for the more than 180 GOP lawmakers who oppose regulating “chemicals that kill people forever,” Rep. Mark Buchan (D-Wisconsin) suggested they should “show them their chemical corporate donors that their leashes are still up.”
Very shocked now listening to gop Members of Congress are arguing against restricting PFAS (chemicals that kill people forever) to show chemical corporate donors that their leashes are still in place.
– Mark Pocan (@MarkPocan) July 21, 2021
Food and water monitoring confirmed That “pressure now on the Senate to act.”
“The Senate shouldn’t compromise when it comes to protecting people from toxic chemicals in their water,” Grant said. “The Senate must pass the PFAS Action Act of 2021, rejecting any attempt to weaken the legislation.”
“Communities have waited a really long time,” Grant added. It is time for the Senate to pass this important legislation. Our country deserves clean water – no less.”
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