Press Releases
Kuster Legislation to Reduce Output of Dangerous PFAS Chemicals Passes Energy and Commerce SubcommitteeLegislation would prevent new PFAS chemicals from entering production
Washington, DC,
September 27, 2019
This week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change passed Congresswoman Annie Kuster’s (NH-02) legislation, the Protecting Communities from New PFAS Act. This legislation would prevent new PFAS chemicals from being approved through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) pre-manufacture notice system. Since 2002, there have been more than 100 new PFAS chemicals reported to the EPA, and chemical companies are creating replacement, or short-chained, PFAS chemicals that still show environmental and health toxicity concerns. This bill would close the door on new PFAS chemicals entering the public and commercial markets. On Tuesday, Kuster spoke on the House floor to call on Congress to address PFAS proliferation in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (NDAA). “The proliferation of toxic PFAS chemicals throughout our environment is a risk to human health and is threatening communities in New Hampshire and across the country,” said Kuster, a member of the Bipartisan PFAS Task Force. “I cannot imagine the fear of a parent who has learned that their children’s drinking water is contaminated with these harmful chemicals. I’m pleased to see my legislation advance because we need to turn off the tap for these dangerous chemicals. We must ensure access to safe drinking water for families in New Hampshire and I will continue to work to protect our communities from PFAS chemicals.” Kuster has been vocal about the need to address PFAS and other water contaminants in New Hampshire. In August she joined with Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) to convene Granite Staters whose communities have been affected by PFAS exposure and heard from experts on how to best move forward in addressing the proliferation of these chemicals in New Hampshire. Kuster questioned Susan Bodine, the Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) about the EPA’s PFAS action plan and expressed her concern about the EPA’s response to this crisis. She has joined with the New Hampshire delegation to call for more research into the connection between pediatric cancer and PFAS exposure. Last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) increased funding for the study of PFAS as requested by Kuster. |