**A previous version of the Kuster-backed bipartisan legislation passed the House in the 116th Congress**

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) helped introduce the bipartisan PFAS Action Act of 2021. The legislation, which Kuster is an original cosponsor of, would set national drinking water standards and designate PFAS as a hazardous substance under the Superfund Program, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act. This bill also includes language from Kuster’s bill, the Protecting Communities from New PFAS Act, to turn off the tap for new PFAS chemicals making their way through the EPA approval process.

“PFAS chemicals, or ‘forever chemicals,’ pose a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of communities in the Granite State and across the country,” said Rep. Kuster. “The PFAS Action Act of 2021 answers urgent calls for action and takes critical, purposeful steps to protect Americans from these dangerous chemicals. I’m proud to join my colleagues across the aisle to reintroduce this legislation, and I look forward to finally bringing these commonsense measures over the finish line.”

A member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Kuster has been vocal about the need to address PFAS and other water contaminants in New Hampshire. In December, she led a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committees in support of robust funding to protect communities from harmful PFAS chemicals. Kuster cosponsored a previous version of this legislation that passed the House in the 116th Congress.

The PFAS Action Act of 2021 would:

• Require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a national drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS within two years that protects public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations.
• Designate PFOA and PFOS chemicals as hazardous substances within one year and requires the EPA to determine whether to list other PFAS within five years.
• Designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous air pollutants within 180 days and requires the EPA to determine whether to list other PFAS within five years.
• Require the EPA to place discharge limits on industrial releases of PFAS and provides $200 million annually for wastewater treatment.
• Prohibit unsafe incineration of PFAS wastes and places a moratorium on the introduction of new PFAS into commerce.
• Require comprehensive PFAS health testing.
• Create a voluntary label for PFAS in cookware.

This legislation is supported by Environmental Working Group, Union of Concerned Scientists, Consumer Reports, Green Science Policy Institute, League of Conservation Voters, Environmental Law & Policy Center, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Food & Water Watch, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, and Southern Environmental Law Center.

PFAS chemicals are man-made chemicals that have so far been found in the drinking water of more than 2,000 communities. PFAS chemicals are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. These chemicals have been linked to harmful human health effects, including cancer, reproductive and developmental harms, and weakened immune systems. In January 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives took bold action and passed the PFAS Action Act by a vote of 247-159, including 24 Republicans supporting the package. The text introduced today is largely identical to the version passed in the 116th Congress.

###