Reps Urge Congress to Act on PFAS Amid New Data From California

Congressman Harley Rouda (California-48), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Environment, held a press conference on September 26 to highlight per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) contamination across the U.S. and call for the inclusion of PFAS provisions in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

“Access to clean water is a bipartisan issue,” said Rouda during the press conference. “We’re here today to draw attention to the nationwide PFAS contamination crisis and the need for Congress to take action. This contamination crisis is everywhere. Yesterday, the Environmental Working Group released a report detailing some of the PFAS levels throughout the state of California, including drinking water sources at 74 water systems serving at least 7.5 million Californians. More than 40 percent of these water systems had at least one sample that exceeded the health advisory level set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

“California is not unique,” he added. “The state of Michigan has been undertaking extensive research efforts, and it’s time for other states and the federal government to take a leadership role. It is time for EPA to take immediate action in protecting human health and the environment. Continued inaction comes at the cost of American lives and natural resources.”