Lower Bucks Today

WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Dan Kildee (MI-18), and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) have reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation aimed at addressing PFAS contamination and holding polluters accountable.

Congressman Fitzpatrick emphasized the importance of setting and enforcing criteria to keep PFAS chemicals out of Americans' drinking water, stating, "Congress must do everything it can to set and enforce criteria to keep PFAS chemicals out of Americans’ drinking water."

Congressman Chris Pappas highlighted the urgency of the issue, stating, "The dangers posed by ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS remain one of the most pressing environmental and public health issues of our time."

Congressman Kildee stressed the importance of ensuring access to safe drinking water, stating, "Access to safe, affordable drinking water should be a right, not a privilege."

Senator Gillibrand echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need to protect communities from PFAS chemicals, stating, "Access to clean water and healthy environments is an essential right that all Americans deserve, yet is actively under threat due to the PFAS contamination crisis."

Melanie Benesh of the Environmental Working Group emphasized the need to hold industries accountable for their pollution, stating, "Industries shouldn’t be able to dump as much PFAS as they like into nearby rivers, streams, and lakes, putting the health of their neighbors at risk."

Adam Krantz of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies expressed support for the legislation, noting that it sets timelines and parameters around EPA actions to regulate PFAS under the Clean Water Act.

Overall, the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act aims to establish water criteria for PFAS, hold polluters accountable, and provide federal support to communities in upgrading their water infrastructure to safeguard public health.