Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose the PFAS Action Act. As the ranking member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, I have participated in many hours of hearings during the previous Congress where we explored issues involving PFAS materials and heard from witnesses spanning many perspectives on this important issue. As legislation and regulations are advanced to address PFAS issues, it is critical that we ensure that these efforts define the chemicals of concern consistently, adequately, and properly as supported by sound science. In the current bill, however, what is ultimately classified as a PFAS material is either left open to interpretation by EPA or broadly defined. Using either approach risks subjecting potentially thousands of chemicals to unnecessary regulation or restriction. As we have heard previously in the House Oversight and Reform Committee, and as we have heard on the floor this week during debate on various amendments, a broad definition of PFAS could subject such key products as lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, refrigerants, and medical devices, to name just a few, to regulation and restriction. All these products provide important benefits, and some, in the case of batteries and semiconductors, have been specifically highlighted by President Biden as part of his efforts to review and reshore critical supply chains.…”