Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the PFAS Action Act (H.R. 535) with bipartisan support. The PFAS Action Act, introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell and cosponsored by Reps. Fred Upton and Dan Kildee, will require the EPA to protect military families and our nation’s drinking water by designating all per- and poly-fluoroalkl substances (PFAS) as hazardous within one year of the bill becoming law, add the chemicals to the Clean Air Act, and authorize millions of dollars for research and water treatment.
The bill was introduced following the omission of core PFAS and PFOA protections from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in December. Republicans in the Senate have already declared their opposition to this critical legislation, and Donald Trump declared he would veto the package should it come to his desk.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
"The Sierra Club applauds the House for passing this important legislation that will protect military families, our air and water, and our health. EPA and Donald Trump’s failure to protect communities from the dangers of PFAS and PFOA, the so-called ‘forever chemicals,’ have put every American at risk of exposure to these toxins. With the passage of the PFAS Action Act, we are an important step closer to ensuring the EPA does its job to protect public health. Senate Republicans and Donald Trump now must protect our communities by passing this bill and signing it into law as soon as possible.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.8 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.