Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement after the PFAS Action Act (H.R. 535) was favorably reported, as amended, to the full House of Representatives by a vote of 31-19: “PFAS are persistent, toxic chemicals that last forever and spread through our water, air and soil.  Today, the Energy and Commerce Committee took action to address the public health threat and growing problems associated with PFAS.  This comprehensive, bipartisan legislation now includes 11 additional bills to protect Americans from PFAS and clean up waste sites.  I commend all the Members who worked on this package of bills for their leadership.  This legislation is critical to stopping the flow of these harmful chemicals into our environment, drinking water, cooking products and more.  I look forward to the full House voting on this bill soon.”

H.R. 535, the “PFAS Action Act of 2019,” was introduced by Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Fred Upton (R-MI).  The bill requires that within one year of enactment that the EPA Administrator shall designate all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous substances under section 102(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

An AINS to H.R. 535 introduced by Chairman Pallone was adopted by voice vote.  The AINS incorporated text from 11 additional bills addressing PFAS:

  • H.R. 2377, the “Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act of 2019”;
  • H.R. 2533, the “Providing Financial Assistance for Safe Drinking Water Act”;
  • H.R. 2566, a bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to revise the Safer Choice Standard to provide for a Safer Choice label for pots, pans, and cooking utensils that do not contain PFAS, and for other purposes;
  • H.R. 2577; the “PFAS Right-To-Know Act”;
  • H.R. 2591, the “PFAS Waste Incineration Ban Act of 2019”;
  • H.R. 2596, the “Protecting Communities from New PFAS Act”;
  • H.R. 2600, the “Toxic PFAS Control Act”;
  • H.R. 2605, the “Prevent Release of Toxics Emissions, Contamination, and Transfer Act of 2019” or the “PROTECT Act of 2019”;
  • H.R. 2608, the “PFAS Testing Act of 2019”;
  • H.R. 2626, the “PFAS Accountability Act of 2019”; and
  • H.R. 2638, a bill to direct the Administrator of the Environment Protection Agency to issue guidance on minimizing the use of firefighting foam containing PFAS, and for other purposes.
For more information, visit https://energycommerce.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/pallone-applauds-committee-passage-of-comprehensive-legislation-to-address.

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