Kildee, Stabenow, Rounds, Peters, Bergman Introduce Bipartisan PFAS Detection Act

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01), and U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Gary Peters (D-MI) today introduced bipartisan legislation to address contamination from chemicals containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The PFAS Detection Act provides the U.S. Geological Survey with $45 million to develop new advanced technologies to detect PFAS and then to conduct nationwide sampling for PFAS in the environment.

"We must continue to aggressively clean up PFAS chemicals in our communities and identify other sites where contamination could pose a risk to public health," said Congressman Kildee. "This bipartisan bill, supported by Republicans and Democrats, is an important step to make sure that communities in Michigan and across the country can identify PFAS contamination sites and take appropriate action. Ensuring clean drinking water and protecting public health should not be a partisan issue."

"People across Michigan who have been exposed to PFAS chemicals are living with incredible uncertainty about the impacts on their health," said Senator Stabenow. "We need to know more about these potentially harmful chemicals so that we can address contamination moving forward."

"We need to act quickly to address PFAS contamination in our water supply, in our household products and in our environment," said Senator Rounds. "The military has taken steps to eliminate the contamination near Ellsworth, but it's important we make sure all of our communities are safe from PFAS contamination. I look forward to working with Sen. Stabenow and all of our Senate colleagues to advance this commonsense legislation."

"Too many families across Michigan have had their lives irreparably damaged by PFAS contamination," said Senator Peters. "As we continue to learn more about these hazardous chemicals, it has become evident that PFAS is a serious threat to communities across the nation. By directing the USGS to uncover and pinpoint high concentration of PFAS, this commonsense, bipartisan legislation would help federal, state and local government agencies properly address this emerging health risk."

"Every family deserves the peace of mind in knowing their water is safe for consumption, but limited data regarding breadth and scope of PFAS contamination has left many without this assurance," said Congressman Bergman. "Our bipartisan legislation takes the necessary steps to identify areas affected by PFAS chemicals, and allows for appropriate remediation plans to be set in place. I will continue working with my colleagues to help enhance community health as we gain a better understanding of the work ahead of us."

There are more than 3,000 chemicals containing PFAS but only around 30 of these substances can be detected using current technology. The data collected by the USGS could help assess the health and environmental impacts of exposure to PFAS chemicals and determine how to address contamination moving forward.

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Representatives Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), and Peter Welch (VT-AL) also cosponsored the legislation.