Pappas Leads Bipartisan Group of 83 Lawmakers in Calling for PFAS Action in Upcoming Stimulus Legislation

Statement

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) led 83 lawmakers in a bipartisan letter urging House leaders to address the devastating impacts of industrial PFAS discharge through the infrastructure component of future economic stimulus legislation. Pappas continues to call for increased investments in our nation's infrastructure that will support our economic recovery as well as the health and safety of local communities.

The letter, sent to House Transportation and Infrastructure leadership, specifically requests that any infrastructure legislation include the language of the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act, which Pappas authored earlier this year. His bill would require EPA to review PFAS discharges under the Clean Water Act and issue regulations to address harmful discharges of PFAS into our nation's waterways. The legislation also requires EPA to hold polluters accountable by ensuring that they are not transmitting PFAS directly into publicly-owned treatment works.

"The long-term economic dislocation caused by this pandemic will require significant action by Congress, and we believe infrastructure should be a focus of future legislation as we seek to rebuild our country's economy and put people back to work. As you look at addressing water infrastructure as part of any future package, we urge you to include provisions of H.R. 535 to restrict industrial releases of PFAS," wrote the lawmakers. "As we emerge from this crisis, we must ensure that communities can focus their resources where they are needed most. These provisions will hold those who discharge PFAS responsible for those discharges and ensure that communities are not left to clean up pollution they did not cause."

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