Pfas Action Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2467, but not necessarily in defense or in critique of PFAS.

Unfortunately, this legislation puts the cart before the horse. It would establish a PFAS standard before the EPA has the information to determine the best regulatory action.

While written and passed by the Energy and Commerce Committee, this bill contains provisions within the jurisdiction of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, of which I am also a member. However, T&I never considered this bill, which greatly concerns me. Our committee didn't hold one hearing or one markup on this bill or on the provisions contained in it. T&I Democrats completely ceded the committee's authority and expertise.

If we had held a hearing or a markup, Republicans would have pointed out that the Clean Water Act, which is squarely in the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, grants ample authority to the EPA and contains a long-established process for evaluating chemicals and regulating the discharge of those substances when they pose a significant risk to water quality.

We would have noted that the EPA already has efforts under way to evaluate PFAS substances pursuant to the Clean Water Act, including managing risks from PFAS.

However, this bill short-circuits the long-established regulatory review process under the Clean Water Act and it ignores the expertise of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

H.R. 2467 imposes unrealistic deadlines on the EPA and asks the EPA to regulate before it has the necessary data to make a legally and scientifically sound regulatory plan.

Legislating in this careless fashion undermines the confidence in both the bill and the legislative process to develop it.

I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill, and I encourage us to continue looking at this issue.

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