WASHINGTON, DC - Subcommittee on Energy Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), committee member Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and committee member Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), along with Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI), today introduced the PFAS Federal Facility Accountability Act of 2018. This bipartisan legislation requires federal agencies to cooperate with states as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination is detected in communities near federal facilitites such as active military installations, former military installations, or National Guard facilities.
PFAS are part of a group of chemicals used for decades in manufacturing, firefighting, and thousands of common household and other consumer products. The bill will facilitate testing, monitoring, removal, and remediation when these chemicals are detected in the water and soil. Federal agencies would be required to come up with a plan of action and enter a cooperative agreement with the affected state within one year of a request from the state.
This bill comes on the heels of a recent #SubEnvironment hearing where Members heard firsthand about the federal government’s efforts to address these chemicals, the environmental and public health risks associated with PFAS exposure, and the barriers that states and local communities face in dealing with this contamination.
“This bipartisan effort will help Michigan continue our rapid response to the PFAS contamination issue. We must increase cooperation between the states and the federal government so that everyone is one the same page. That’s exactly what this bill does. This should not be a partisan issue and we’re are coming together in a bipartisan way to make certain Michigan is leading the way." said #SubEnergy Chairman Upton.
“We need an all-hands-on deck response to the growing PFAS contamination in Michigan. PFAS is a man-made chemical, and it will require a man-made solution from all of us working together. This bipartisan legislation will help states such as Michigan respond quickly when contamination is detected," said Congresswoman Dingell.
“Here in Michigan, like many other states, the issues surrounding PFAS contamination in our water and soil pose a serious public health concern. We need a robust response to protect the wellbeing of our citizens, and our bipartisan bill will help increase coordination between federal and state authorities to cleanup and prevent exposure to these contaminants," said Congressman Walberg.
