Preventing Pfas Runoff At Airports Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3662) to temporarily increase the cost share authority for aqueous film forming foam input-based testing equipment, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: S. 3662
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act''. SEC. 2. TEMPORARY INCREASED COST SHARE AUTHORITY FOR AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAM INPUT-BASED TESTING EQUIPMENT.
(a) In General.--Section 47109 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Special Rule for Covered Equipment.--
``(1) In general.--The Government's share of allowable project costs for covered equipment and its installation shall be 100 percent.
``(2) Definition of covered equipment.--For purposes of this subsection, the term `covered equipment' means aqueous film forming foam input-based testing equipment that is eligible for Airport Improvement Program funding based on Federal Aviation Administration PGL 21-01, titled `Extension of Eligibility for stand-alone acquisition of input-based testing equipment and truck modification', dated October 5, 2021 (or any other successor program guidance letter).
``(3) Sunset.--The higher cost share authority established in this subsection shall terminate on the earlier of--
``(A) 180 days after the date on which the eligibility of covered equipment for Airport Improvement Program funding under the authority described in paragraph (2) terminates or is discontinued by the Administrator; or
``(B) 5 years after the date of enactment of this subsection.''.
(b) Outreach Efforts.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall conduct an outreach effort to make airports aware of the higher cost share authority established in section 47109(g) of title 49, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
(c) Forward-looking Airport Reimbursements.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that reviews--
(1) potential options for Congress to reimburse airports that--
(A) are certificated under part 139 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and
(B) acquired covered equipment (as defined in section 47109(g) of title 49, United States Code) as added by subsection (a)--
(i) with Federal funding but with a Government's share less than 100 percent; or
(ii) without Federal funding;
(2) information relevant to estimating the potential cost of providing such reimbursement;
(3) the status of the Federal Aviation Administration's outreach efforts as required under subsection (b); and
(4) any additional information the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration considers appropriate.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply to amounts that first become available in fiscal year 2023 or thereafter.
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Mr. CARSON. 3662, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3662, the Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act, sponsored by Senator Peters from Michigan.
Mr. Speaker, every day millions of Americans are exposed to highly toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS, through either their drinking water, home appliances, retail packaging, or countless other things they come into contact with each and every day.
These chemicals, known as ``forever chemicals'' due to their long- term persistence and inability to be easily broken down when released into the environment, have been linked with numerous human health risks, including increased risk of cancer, immune system impairment, and impaired child development. And that is just what we know. There is still plenty that we don't know about these hazardous materials and chemicals.
Unfortunately, these chemicals are also likely to be found in and around many of our Nation's airports. That is because airports have been required by law to use and discharge firefighting foam containing PFAS; not just during firefighting emergencies, but also to comply with mandatory FAA testing requirements for firefighting equipment. These discharges have tremendous health implications for the people who live and work around airports, as well as growing liability concerns for the airports themselves.
Fortunately, there has been significant progress on this front. For instance, just last month, the EPA proposed designating two of the most widely used PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances, which would create more public transparencies around the release of these chemicals. And the FAA is in the process of transitioning away from mandating the use of airport firefighting foam containing PFAS--though the agency still has to offer PFAS-free alternatives.
Furthermore, the FAA now allows for airports to sufficiently test their firefighting equipment without discharging PFAS outside of the vehicle. But while these efforts should be celebrated, more work must be done.
That is why I support this bill, which would raise the Federal cost share to 100 percent for airports that use Federal Airport Improvements Program funds to acquire input-based testing equipment, which enables airports to test firefighting equipment without emitting toxic PFAS substances. While airports are already allowed to procure this equipment, the cost of the equipment--which can be tens of thousands of dollars--can often be prohibitive.
Through this higher Federal cost share, S. 3662 would incentivize the broad adoption of this new technology to ensure airports are able to limit or prevent the spread of PFAS contamination into local communities.
In addition, the bill would require the FAA to provide Congress with options for reimbursing airports that use AIP funds to require input- based testing equipment under a lower Federal cost share standard or acquire this equipment without AIP funds.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, in closing, by making this small change to the Federal AIP, this bill would make it much easier to protect the health of our airport workers, first responders, and local communities, as well as bolster our Nation's ability to continue fighting these dangerous and insidious chemicals.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bipartisan legislation and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.
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