Trahan Helps Send Long Overdue PFAS Legislation to House Floor for Vote

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) cast her vote during a House Energy and Commerce Committee markup to advance H.R. 2467, the PFAS Action Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation that will protect Americans from dangerous forever chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

"Communities across the Commonwealth know how important it is to work with urgency to address PFAS-contaminated drinking water supplies. It's imperative that the federal government step up and do its part to support those efforts" said Congresswoman Trahan. "I'm proud to join with my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to pass the PFAS Action Act, which will bolster local and state initiatives to clean up contaminated drinking water sites, support families already exposed to these dangerous chemicals, and take long overdue steps to limit future exposures. I look forward casting my vote in favor of this legislation once again when it's taken up on the House floor."

PFAS chemicals are manmade and have been used in common products such as firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, water resistant clothing, cleaning products, paints and sealants, personal care products, and cosmetics since the 1940s. Despite being linked to harmful health effects, these forever chemicals have been discovered in the drinking water of more than 2,000 communities nationwide, including in 50 public water sources reported in Massachusetts this year alone.

In the Third District, communities that still deliver water with elevated PFAS levels include Acton and Ayer. Last week, Trahan's office joined with Littleton officials to break ground on a new 10,500-square-foot water treatment plant to filter PFAS chemicals from contaminated wells. The project, which will be financed through the State Revolving Fund Loan Program, also received a $200,000 EPA grant to support engineering and design costs.

To protect communities from PFAS chemicals, the PFAS Action Act will:

Stem the flow of PFAS contamination into the environment by requiring cleanup of sites contaminated with perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) -- two of the most hazardous PFAS chemicals -- as well as setting air emission limits, prohibiting unsafe incineration of PFAS, and limiting the introduction of new PFAS chemicals into commerce;
Identify health risks by requiring comprehensive health testing for all PFAS, reporting of PFAS releases, and monitoring for PFAS in drinking water;
Inform communities of PFAS risks by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a risk-communication strategy and establish a website with information on testing of household well water;
Limit human exposure to PFAS by requiring a drinking water standard for PFAS that protects public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations like pregnant women, infants, and children, and holding polluters accountable;
Provide grants to impacted water systems, create a voluntary label for cookware that is PFAS free, provide guidance for first responders to limit their exposures, and require effluent limitations and pretreatment standards for PFAS introduction or discharge.
Trahan supported passage of similar legislation in the House during the 116th, but the Republican-controlled Senate did not take up the bill. Following today's vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the PFAS Action Act now moves to the House floor for full consideration.

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