Published:
Peters, Sullivan, Hassan & Tillis Bipartisan Bill to Protect Firefighters from Hazardous PFAS Chemicals Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC – Legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Gary
Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC)
to help protect the health and safety of firefighters, emergency responders and
the communities they serve has advanced in the Senate. The legislation was
unanimously approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Committee, where Peters serves as Chair.
The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act,
which was reintroduced last month, 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 guidance to be issued on alternative foams
and personal protective equipment that do not contain PFAS. U.S. Senators Lisa
Murkowski (R-AK), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are also original
cosponsors of the bill.
“Our
brave firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line every day
to protect our communities in Michigan and across the nation. We owe it to them
to ensure that they will be safe from exposure to toxic and dangerous chemicals
when they are on the job,” said Senator Peters. “I am proud that our
committee approved my commonsense bipartisan legislation to help protect
emergency responders from PFAS exposure, and I look forward to working with my
colleagues to get this bill signed into law.”
“Our brave firefighters face a
disproportionate exposure to certain harmful PFAS chemicals as they
carry out their duty to their neighbors and communities,” said Senator
Sullivan. “We need to do more to prioritize the health and well-being of
these selfless public servants, and this legislation in an important first step
toward limiting PFAS exposure, employing safer practices, and finding
responsible alternatives to these chemicals. I thank Senator Peters and members
of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee for advancing our
legislation today, and I am hopeful we will get it passed and signed into law
this Congress.”
“Fire
fighters in New Hampshire and across the country work hard every day to keep
our communities safe, and we must do more to protect them from toxic chemicals
while on the job,” said Senator Hassan. “I am glad to be a part of
bipartisan efforts to better support the health and wellbeing of our brave fire
fighters, and I will continue working with my colleagues to address hazardous
PFAS chemicals.”
“Firefighters
and first responders put their lives on the line to keep communities safe, and
they should not have to worry about being exposed to harmful chemicals like
PFAS when called to emergencies,” said Senator Tillis. “This legislation
will develop guidelines to keep our first responders safe and limit the introduction
of these harmful contaminants into the environment. I applaud the Senate
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for unanimously passing
this important legislation, and I will continue to work to pass it out of the
full Senate quickly.”
“I’d
like to offer my support of the Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances
(PFAS) Act as introduced by Senator Peters,” said Kevin Sehlmeyer, State of
Michigan Fire Marshal. “I encourage the passage of this bill which
will provide training and educational programs that reduce and prevent exposure
to harmful PFAS chemicals. This legislation will ultimately protect the
men and women in the fire service who put their lives on the line every day to
protect our communities.”
“I
am very pleased to see that the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs
Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Peters, has voted to advance the
PFAS Act.” said Chief Kenneth W. Stuebing, the Acting President and Chairman
of the Board of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. “This
legislation will develop helpful guidance that local fire departments can use
to reduce exposure to PFAS for not only our firefighters but also the citizens
we serve. Now that it has advanced through committee, I urge Congress to
pass the PFAS Act as soon as possible.”
"Fire fighters have dedicated their lives to protecting
others and keeping their communities safe. Unfortunately, these brave men and
women are exposed to dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ while serving their communities,
subjecting them to higher risks of cancer and other serious health effects,”
said Harold A. Schaitberger, General President of the International Association
of Fire Fighters. “The IAFF supports measures to address these chemicals
and commends Senators Peters for his continuous efforts to help protect fire
fighters, emergency medical responders, and the communities they serve from
unnecessary PFAS exposure."
“I’d like to thank Senator Peters for his leadership in introducing
the PFAS Act. Firefighters have a greater risk of contracting and dying from
cancer than the general public as a result of duty-related exposures,” said
Steve Hirsch, Chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council. “Enactment
of this important legislation will lead to improved health and safety outcomes
for firefighter, EMS, and rescue personnel.”
Emergency
response teams are frequently exposed to harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams and personal protective equipment as they work to keep communities safe. PFAS substances have
been linked to a number of health problems, including certain cancers.
The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act would
direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – in consultation with
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fire Administration, and
the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health – to develop educational resources to help
protect firefighters, emergency response personnel, and the communities they
serve from PFAS exposure. This would include information for federal, state,
and local firefighters on training and best practices to prevent and reduce
exposure to PFAS from firefighting foams and protective gear, as well as resources
that identify alternatives for firefighting tools and equipment that do not
contain PFAS.
As
top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee,
Peters has led Congressional efforts to address PFAS contamination in Michigan
and across the country. Peters supported or led provisions in the
2019 national defense bill banning the Department of Defense from purchasing
firefighting foams containing PFAS. The bill also immediately prohibited the
use of firefighting foams containing PFAS in military training exercises, and
enhanced state cooperation with the Department of Defense regarding clean-up
due to PFAS contamination stemming from military-related activities. In
September 2018, Peters helped convene the first hearing on PFAS in the
Senate, assessing the federal response to contamination and remediation. He
then convened a field summit in
Grand Rapids in November 2018 to shine a light on how the local, state and
federal governments are coordinating their response to PFAS.
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