U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Presses Trump Administration for Urgency on Addressing PFAS Contamination in Water
“The problem is growing, but your actions have failed to reflect the seriousness of this threat.”
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Presses Trump Administration for Urgency on Addressing PFAS Contamination in Water
“The problem is growing, but your actions have failed to reflect the seriousness of this threat.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is calling on the Trump administration to respond more urgently to water contamination caused by harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in order to protect human health.
In her letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield, Senator Baldwin is demanding more EPA research to make PFAS testing more accessible and affordable and more research at CDC on how PFAS exposure harms human health, along with emphasizing the critical need for collaboration between the agencies to address this issue.
Baldwin writes,“The scope of PFAS contamination is expanding, with new areas of contamination discovered regularly. The problem is growing, but your actions have failed to reflect the seriousness of this threat.
She continues,“Multiple communities in Wisconsin are facing PFAS water contamination, including the Town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and surrounding areas. The groundwater in this community has some of the highest levels of PFAS contamination in the nation as a result of years of manufacturing and open testing of firefighting foams. Earlier this month, I held a meeting with community leaders in this area who are advocating for public and private action to address the contamination of their soil and water. Representatives from state environmental and public health agencies were also present to share the actions the State of Wisconsin is taking to respond to PFAS contamination. I invited and encouraged staff from both CDC and EPA to attend, but both agencies declined.Baldwin concludes,“I am calling upon EPA and CDC to urgently pursue research that advances environmental testing technology and improves scientific understanding of how PFAS affect human health. These two research goals are closely related. Therefore, it is essential that your agencies closely collaborate as you carry out this critical mission.”
Senator Baldwin is also requesting information from EPA and CDC on the following:
· Whether the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) currently have reliable scientific information to advise medical professionals on the health implications of PFAS exposure;
· Which actions the CDC and ATSDR are taking to advance the science on how PFAS chemicals affect human health;
· When the EPA’s process of setting an enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level for two PFAS chemicals–PFOA and PFOS–will be complete; and
· How the CDC and EPA are collaborating to assist states and communities in understanding the need for environmental PFAS testing and the health risks of PFAS exposure.
The full letter is available here. An online version of this release is available here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the PFAS Problem
- 3M’s PFAS Deal Promises Cash, But Not Clean Water, For Wisconsin Families - Danielle Kaeding - Nov 6th, 2026
- Finally: Wisconsin Moves to Protect Rural Communities from Toxic PFAS - Clean Wisconsin - Oct 28th, 2026
- Wisconsin Launches Grant Programs to Address PFAS Contamination - Danielle Kaeding - Oct 21st, 2026
- Gov. Evers, DNR Announce Launch of Two New Grant Programs to Ensure Safe, Clean Drinking Water Statewide - Gov. Tony Evers - Oct 20th, 2026
- Gov. Evers, DNR Celebrate PFAS Awareness Week, Highlight Evers Administration’s Efforts to Ensure Safe, Clean Water Statewide - Gov. Tony Evers - Sep 21st, 2026
- $10 Million Released To Tackle PFAS In Marinette, Peshtigo Wells - Danielle Kaeding - Sep 3rd, 2026
- Gov. Evers, DNR Celebrate Release of $10 Million Pfas Settlement Payment to Help Provide Safe Drinking Water to Affected Communities - Gov. Tony Evers - Sep 1st, 2026
- Gov. Evers, Wisconsin DNR Urge Release of $10 Million to Address PFAS - Danielle Kaeding - Aug 20th, 2026
- Baldwin, Colleagues Demand EPA Drop Its Effort to Weaken PFAS Drinking Water Protections for Millions of Americans - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Aug 10th, 2026
- DNR Hosting Listening Session to Gather Feedback About Pfas Law Program Development - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Jun 5th, 2026
Read more about PFAS Problem here
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