Chellie Pingree: “I thank Representative Scanlon for granting me the time and Chairman Pallone and particularly Congresswoman Dingell for…”

“I thank Representative Scanlon for granting me the time and Chairman Pallone and particularly Congresswoman Dingell for their leadership on PFAS issues. I rise today in support of H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act of 2019. This bipartisan bill will take much-needed and long-overdue action on these harmful forever chemicals. These pervasive and dangerous chemicals pose serious risks to both human health and to our environment, and the delay in taking action on them has been inexcusable. They are known hormone disruptors, and studies link the exposure to them to kidney and testicular cancer, to thyroid disease and other health problems. PFAS chemicals are concentrated in human and animal blood and tissue, and they can remain there for years. It is estimated that 99 percent of all Americans have PFAS in their blood. In my home State of Maine, PFAS was first discovered in the groundwater at a former military installation due to the use of fire foam containing PFAS. But PFAS contamination has been found in our public water supply, in soil, in agriculture, and in animal products. Once in the environment, PFAS will never break down. That is why they are called forever chemicals, so cleanup is essential to protect people in our environment. Companies and regulators have known about the risks of products like Teflon, Scotchgard, and, yes, Gore-Tex for decades but have failed to take action to protect or inform the American people.…”