Senators Hassan & Shaheen’s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Fire Fighters from PFAS Chemicals Goes to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON -- Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) and cosponsored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to help protect the health and safety of fire fighters and emergency responders from PFAS exposure passed the House and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

The bipartisan Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act directs federal agencies to develop best practices, training, and educational programs to reduce, limit, and prevent exposure to PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not naturally break down. The bill would also require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop educational resources for fire fighters on alternative foams and personal protective equipment that do not contain PFAS.

“Fire fighters routinely put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and they face additional risk from exposure to toxic substances in firefighting foams and personal protective equipment,” said Senator Hassan. “I introduced this commonsense, bipartisan bill to reduce fire fighters’ exposure to PFAS substances that are linked to numerous health problems including certain cancers. I am glad that this bill has passed the House and Senate, and look forward to seeing the President sign this into law.”

“Exposure to PFAS chemicals poses risks to both human health and the environment. That’s why Congress and the Department of Homeland Security must take action to protect our firefighters from exposure to these dangerous substances while in the line of duty. And because of our legislation, that is precisely what the federal government will be required to do,” said Shaheen. “I’m glad to see this legislation head to President Biden’s desk to become law, marking an important step in keeping firefighters in New Hampshire and across the nation safe while on the job, as well as preventing these harmful chemicals from contaminating the environment. I’ve long prioritized actions to protect firefighters from PFAS exposure, and I’m proud to build on that work when this bill is signed into law.”

This bill is part of Senator Hassan and Shaheen’s ongoing efforts to support first responders and address PFAS exposure. Senator Hassan has strongly supported federal grant programs to support New Hampshire fire departments, and successfully worked to increase funding for these programs in the American Rescue Plan that was passed into law. The bipartisan infrastructure law includes a measure authored by Senator Hassan to better ensure that more New Hampshire towns are eligible for an advanced technology grant program that can be used remove contaminants, including PFAS, from drinking water.

Senator Shaheen leads efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health effects related to PFAS contamination, respond to the chemical exposure and remediate polluted sites. Shaheen has fought to secure consistent federal support for the PFAS health impact study that she established four years ago. Because of her efforts, Pease is serving as a model site for the nationwide study. As a lead negotiator of water provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure law, Shaheen secured record-level funding to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and address PFAS contamination, including $72 million in grants to New Hampshire announced by the Environmental Protection Agency last month. The FY2020 NDAA included Shaheen’s bipartisan legislation, the Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Department of Defense to include blood testing for PFAS as part of routine physicals for military firefighters, as well as a provision authored by Shaheen that would phase out the use of PFAS in DOD firefighting foams by 2024. 

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