AG Kaul Calls on U.S. Senate to Pass Legislation to Protect the Public from Toxic ‘Forever’ Chemicals
Coalition Urges Senate Leadership to Strengthen Public Health Protections from PFAS in the National Defense Authorization Act
MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general in calling on the U.S. Senate to pass a Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with needed protections to combat exposures to poly- and perfluoroalkyl (PFAS) “forever” chemicals — a class of highly toxic and environmentally persistent chemicals that pose serious threats to public health— in communities across the country.
In a letter sent to the U.S. Senate, the coalition urges Senate leaders provide the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) with the tools necessary to conduct remediation and removal of PFAS contamination to protect public health and the environment. According to the letter, states are currently spending tens of millions of dollars to fight the serious health dangers PFAS contamination poses, and the threat to the public and the environment from the chemicals is growing. The coalition expressly endorses the Senate Armed Services Committee’s conclusion that to adequately address the persistence and toxicity of PFAS chemicals, we need a “whole of government” approach.
The attorneys general urge the Senate to adopt additional protections that appear in the House NDAA bill, which was recently passed by a strong bipartisan majority. These provisions include:
- Requiring the DoD to use enforceable state standards for the clean-up of PFAS contamination when they are stricter than current federal regulations;
- Prohibiting DoD from procuring certain PFAS-containing items including food packaging, sunscreen, cleaning products, and textiles;
- Establishing a two-year deadline for completing PFAS testing at DoD and National Guard sites;
- Requiring the DoD to publish and make publicly available the results of drinking and groundwater testing for PFAS conducted on or near current or former military sites, including National Guard sites;
- Requiring the DoD to report on the status of clean-up at identified PFAS sites across the country;
- Establishing a moratorium on PFAS incineration; and
- Ensuring that identified loopholes in reporting under EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory for PFAS are addressed.
PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used to produce countless consumer products since the 1940s, including textiles with Scotchgard™; Teflon™ products, including non-stick cookware; food packaging; and waterproof clothing. Firefighting-foam-containing PFAS has also been used for decades by the U.S. military, airports, industrial facilities, and local fire departments. PFAS are estimated to be detectable in the blood stream of 99 percent of the U.S. population.
Joining Attorney General Kaul in sending the letter are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia.
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
- Lawmakers At Odds Over Releasing Health, PFAS Funds - Erik Gunn - Jun 6th, 2024
- Wisconsin Senate Votes to Override Governor’s Vetoes - Baylor Spears - May 15th, 2024
- Gov. Evers Sues Republican Legislators for Continued Obstruction of Investments Intended to Address Pressing Challenges Facing Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers - May 13th, 2024
- Legislators Agree on Opioid Plan, Still Withhold PFAS, Hospital Funds - Erik Gunn - May 8th, 2024
- Gov. Evers Again Calls Republican Lawmakers into Special Meeting to Urge Immediate Release of $140 Million to Fight PFAS Statewide, Respond to Hospital Closures in Western Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers - May 6th, 2024
- The State of Politics: Voters Worried About PFAS in Water - Steven Walters - Apr 22nd, 2024
- EPA Slaps Two PFAS Chemicals With Superfund Law Designation - Danielle Kaeding - Apr 19th, 2024
- DNR Responds To EPA’s Designation Of PFOA And PFOS As Hazardous Substances - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Apr 19th, 2024
- Evers Won’t Rule Out Court Challenge to Force Release of PFAS Funds - Danielle Kaeding - Apr 16th, 2024
- Gov. Evers Vetoes PFAS Bill, Calls Special Meeting of Budget Committee - Baylor Spears - Apr 10th, 2024
Read more about PFAS Problem here
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