Senator Agard Statement on Republican PFAS Proposal

MADISON – Today, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing Senate Bill 312 (SB 312), a bill put forth by Republican lawmakers after gutting Governor Evers’ comprehensive PFAS plan in his last three budget proposals. Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement regarding the legislation:

“We must take PFAS seriously and act aggressively to not only mitigate the damaging effect of PFAS, but also ensure that our uncontaminated water sources are protected for years to come. We can and should do more to ensure that clean water is accessible to every Wisconsinite.

“For years, Democratic lawmakers and Governor Evers put forth legislation to address the dangerous PFAS contamination that is plaguing Wisconsin’s drinking water, including the introduction of the CLEAR Act (Chemical Level Enforcement and Remediation Act) since 2019. Democrats agree that Wisconsin should be the gold standard for water quality.

“I am happy to see that my Republican colleagues have finally recognized that PFAS contamination is a real issue impacting Wisconsin’s waterways and our state’s precious drinking water. While this legislation takes important steps, we are missing the opportunity to ensure that all communities have the necessary tools to effectively deal with PFAS contamination. I am hopeful that as this bill moves through the legislative process, we listen to stakeholders, experts, and communities impacted to ensure that our state enacts a comprehensive, long-term solution.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.