On February 23, a group of bipartisan Senators led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the Federal PFAS Research Evaluation Act. This bill would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Defense Department and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in conjunction with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, to produce four reports identifying research needed to understand and address the human health impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Notably, the legislation does not authorize funding to support these reports.  PFAS are synthetic chemicals that have been used in a variety of commercial, industrial and military applications. PFAS are often suspended in the environment for decades, leading to accumulations in water systems and waste management facilities.  Separately, on February 27, Sen. Shaheen (D-N.H.) led a letter alongside 35 other Senators requesting the inclusion of funding to address PFAS in President Biden’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget request. The letter urges the administration to request funding for data and research and testing and clean up, as well as support for regulatory protections. County governments are dedicated to addressing concerns related to PFAS exposure and protecting the health and well-being of our residents and employees. Counties support federal efforts to study the human health and environmental impacts of PFAS and provide additional federal resources to address PFAS contamination. Further, counties urge both Congress and the administration to work closely and consult with state and local governments as they consider potential legislative and regulatory action on PFAS. 

2023-03-03

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2023-03-06