OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

Date: Oct. 19, 2021
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Prevent Release of Toxics Emissions, Contamination, and Transfer Act. The PROTECT Act would add certain PFAS chemicals to the list of hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Working Group recently identified nearly 30,000 potential industrial dischargers of PFAS into the air and water. Yet there are currently no restrictions on industrial PFAS discharges under the Clean Water Act or the Clean Air Act, leaving communities vulnerable to the devastating impacts of PFAS pollution.

While it is well documented how toxic PFAS chemicals are prevalent in the water supply, it is less well known that PFAS chemicals are also emitted into the air.

This legislation would add PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, and GenX to the list of hazardous air pollutants regulated under section 112(b) of the Clean Air Act. It would also direct the EPA to create a list of categories of major sources and area sources that emit PFAS within 2 years and give the EPA a 5-year deadline to finalize the subsequent regulations.

The EPA has acknowledged that ``air emissions of PFAS from industrial sources is now recognized as a significant route for PFAS releases to the environment and is evidenced by deposition as well as their presence in rainwater.'' Yet PFAS air emissions aren't currently regulated under the Clean Air Act or any other anti-pollution law.

Adding PFAS to the EPA's hazardous air pollutants list would build upon work done by States to limit air emissions from industrial facilities and greatly expand the number of facilities that would have to adopt technology to reduce PFAS emissions.

I thank my colead Senator Shaheen for her tireless leadership fighting PFAS contamination and protecting vulnerable communities and Congresswoman Stevens for successfully shepherding this legislation through the House.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact the PROTECT Act as quickly as possible.

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