Portman, Shaheen Praise Passage of NDAA Conference Report that Includes Their Bipartisan Bill to Boost EPA Response to PFAS Passes Senate

Statement

Today, the Senate passed the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which contains a bipartisan bill authored by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) aimed at combating exposure to emerging contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act will improve coordination across the federal government in identifying and responding to emerging contaminants. The bill also expedites analysis of these chemicals and provides support and resources to states dealing with the health challenges posed by these potentially harmful materials. PFAS chemicals have emerged in drinking water sources in several communities across the nation, including New Hampshire and Ohio. The conference report now heads to the president's desk for signature.

"We must ensure that our drinking water remains safe for all Ohioans, and that's why I am pleased the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act was included in the Senate-passed NDAA conference report today. Passage of the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act will improve federal efforts to identify the health impacts of unregulated contaminants found in our drinking water sources," said Portman. "This will help the federal government more efficiently and effectively analyze the impacts of, and respond to, emerging contaminants through greater coordination among federal agencies, and will provide states with the resources they need to monitor, test, and respond to potential risks posed by emerging contaminants."

"As a senior member of the committee that writes the defense bill, including my legislation with Senator Portman to break down barriers that impede the EPA from responding to PFAS exposure was a top priority," said Shaheen. "Our bipartisan provision will help empower communities with the information and resources they need to respond to PFAS exposure, improve communication between federal agencies when contamination is discovered and prioritize a federal research strategy to speed up identification, treatment and analysis of emerging contaminants like PFAS. Our families should be able to trust the water coming out of the tap, and this bipartisan measure will help give them that peace of mind."

Portions of the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act were included in federal funding legislation signed into law for fiscal year 2018 to help identify research gaps to address the potential health implications associated with exposure to emerging contaminants. The Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act builds off that work by establishing a national strategy to coordinate the federal response to emerging contaminants, and provide assistance to states in responding to these materials. Specifically, the legislation would:

-Direct the EPA to create a program to provide federal support and technical assistance to communities that have detected emerging contaminants in their water supply.
-Establish and maintain a comprehensive database of resources to assist states and water stakeholders with testing for emerging contaminants.
-Direct the EPA and the Department of Health and Human Services to convene an interagency working group to improve Federal efforts to identify and respond to emerging contaminants.
-Direct the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop an interagency federal research strategy to improve the identification, analysis and treatment of emerging contaminants.

In June 2018, Senator Rob Portman was successful at demanding the administration release the results of a study regarding what levels of PFAS chemicals are safe in drinking water. He led a bipartisan group of 10 Senators highlighting news reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to block the release of results from a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) study on the toxic Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

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