On the recordSeptember 24, 2019
Mr. Speaker, across the United States and in my district, we are seeing more and more communities threatened with PFAS contamination. The proliferation of toxic PFAS chemicals throughout our environment is a risk to human health, and as Congress continues to act on this issue, we must listen to the families and citizens who have had to live with this contamination. I cannot imagine the fear of a parent who has learned that their children's drinking water is contaminated with these harmful chemicals. That is why earlier this year, I introduced legislation that would prohibit companies from adjusting PFAS chemicals at the molecular level to bypass environmental protection at the Environmental Protection Agency. Turning off the tap for approving new PFAS chemicals is one step that Congress can take as we work to fully understand how expansive PFAS contamination is to our environment and to human health. Congress must act on this issue, which is why last month, I convened a PFAS summit with my friend and colleague Chris Pappas to hear from environmental advocates, impacted families, and community leaders in New Hampshire who are on the front lines of cleaning up PFAS contamination. {time} 1215 We also heard from experts who are working on long-term solutions to cleaning up these ``forever chemicals,'' and I am pleased to bring some of these ideas back to Washington as a member of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force.…





