House Passes PFAS Action Act of 2019, Containing Key Pappas Amendment
\Washington, D.C.- Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the PFAS Action Act of 2019, a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to limit the impacts of PFAS contamination on our communities and our environment. Although these chemicals have been linked to cancer, immune disorders, thyroid problems, and other chronic health conditions, there have been few federal protections in place to protect public health.
The PFAS Action Act contains a key provision introduced by Congressman Pappas based on the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act, which Pappas authored earlier this year. This amendment would require EPA to review PFAS discharges under the Clean Water Act and issue regulations to address harmful discharges of PFAS into our nation's waterways. The amendment also requires EPA to hold polluters accountable by ensuring that they are not sending harmful PFAS directly to our publicly owned treatment works. Furthermore, it authorizes a grant program to assist publicly owned treatment works in overseeing compliance by industrial source polluters covered by these new regulations.
"I represent so many tireless advocates and concerned constituents in New Hampshire who have identified this threat in their communities and raised our collective consciousness about the dangers of PFAS," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "I am proud to have passed this bipartisan amendment on their behalf, which calls on the EPA to set proactive limits for PFAS discharge, holds polluters accountable, and provides impacted communities with resources to address contamination. Granite Staters deserve clean water, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to stop PFAS from getting into the environment and our drinking water."
"We all know the concern about the human health effects of PFAS-related chemicals, and the ongoing releases of PFAS chemicals from industrial facilities, such as chemical manufacturers, pulp and paper mills, and textile manufacturers," said House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter Defazio. "I applaud the amendment, offered by my colleague on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Congressman Pappas, which goes a step further by establishing a clear framework and statutory deadlines for understanding and addressing ongoing sources of PFAS chemicals."
You can watch Congressman Pappas speak on his amendment HERE.
The PFAS Action Act will:
- Minimize PFAS contamination within our communities by limiting the production of new PFAS chemicals, requiring the cleanup of contaminated sites, and setting air emission standards
- Work to better identify the health risks associated with PFAS contamination to help communities that have already been exposed
- Limit further human exposure to PFAS by establishing drinking water standards and providing communities with the resources they need to fix impacted water systems
Since entering Congress, Congressman Chris Pappas has taken a leadership role in fighting for better standards, increased investment, and a stronger national focus on the issue of PFAS contamination. He has led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the PFAS Registry Act. He also joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators to introduce the VET PFAS Act to extend VA benefits to veterans who have been impacted by PFAS contamination on military installations throughout the country.