PFAS Action Act Passes in House; Call on Senate To Pass
On January 10, 2010, The U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 535, the PFAS Action Act. This legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to mandate cleanup of sites contaminated with PFOA and PFOS and require a national drinking water standard for PFAS within two years. It had bipartisan support, passing by a vote of 247-159, with 24 House Republicans supporting.
The Safe Drinking Water Act was last amended in 1996–over 20 years ago. In those 2 decades, U.S. tap water has been contaminated with more than 160 unregulated chemicals— including at least 12 toxic PFAS chemicals which Newburgh residents have been exposed to for 3 decades. EPA has not added any new contaminants to the toxic chemicals covered in the act. The regulatory system meant to ensure the safety of America’s drinking water is broken.
Earthjustice, Environmental Working Group and Food & Water Watch have been diligently fighting for national PFAS regulations and cleanup on behalf of all affected communities. It's time for Senators to support the passage of the PFAS Action Act and the EPA to regulate these toxins out of our food (soil) and water!
"…Now that Democrats and Republicans alike have recognized the threat these chemicals pose to our health and our well-being, it’s time for the U.S. Senate to choose people over chemical corporations’ profits and pass this legislation.”
— Christine Santillana, associate legislative counsel leading federal legislative advocacy on PFAS for Earthjustice
