Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher's Bill To Reveal PFAS Health and Environmental Hazards Passes House

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher's (TX-07) and Congressman Peter Meijer's (MI-03) bill, the Federal PFAS Research Evaluation Act, H.R. 7289, passed the House of Representatives. The Federal PFAS Research Evaluation Act implements a federal study to uncover the health and environmental hazards per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure presents to communities. This legislation requires federal agencies with existing PFAS research to work with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on PFAS exposure and toxicity, and to develop a federal research and development plan to address PFAS exposure. The bill passed the House by a vote of 359-62.

"It is critical that we understand the threat PFAS chemicals pose to our communities and to our citizens," said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. "Research done to date shows that PFAS chemicals accumulate in our bodies for long periods of time. We need to know the health risks they pose and how we can reduce those risks. I am grateful for Congressman Meijer's partnership as we work to protect our communities and our environment."

In 2019, more than 130,000 gallons of firefighting foam were used to extinguish a fire at the Intercontinental Terminals Company petrochemical facility in Deer Park, TX. The firefighting foam leaked PFAS chemicals into the Houston Ship Channel and the Galveston Bay. In an effort to address critical PFAS research gaps, Congresswoman Fletcher introduced the Federal PFAS Research Evaluation Act in 2020. It passed the House but was not taken up for a vote in the Senate. Congresswoman Fletcher re-introduced the bill in March of this year. After the bill's favorable passage through the House today, it now moves on to the Senate.

Congresswoman Fletcher also introduced a separate bill to protect first responders and the environment from PFAS exposure, which passed the House in July 2021.

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