Sending Office: Honorable Harley Rouda
Sent By:
Beth.Hammon@mail.house.gov
Dear Colleague,
I invite you to become a cosponsor of H.R. 2570, The PFAS User Fee Act of 2019. This bill will hold PFAS polluters accountable for their role in this nationwide contamination crisis.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of toxic man-made chemicals often referred to as PFAS chemicals, are known for their remarkable persistence and mobility – they are not known to break down in the environment and easily move through
soil to drinking water systems. PFAS chemicals are found in everyday items such as Teflon, fast-food wrappers, and fire-fighting foam used on military bases and at airports. Serious health effects resulting from exposure to PFAS chemicals include but are not
limited to cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, birth defects, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease.
The bill comes on the heels of new analysis published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Northeastern University earlier this week that finds that 610 locations in 43 states have water sources containing PFAS – these sources serve upwards of 19
million people across the country.
For decades, chemical manufacturers have known that these chemicals are extremely hazardous to human health. This bill would require PFAS manufacturers to pay a fee (no less than $2 billion a year) into a trust fund that would be used to provide grants to
communities and water systems dealing with contamination issues.
Communities across the country have dealt first-hand with exposure to these toxic chemicals for decades. All the while, manufacturers have known that these chemicals are extremely hazardous to human health, have actively taken steps to bury unfavorable
research, and have used false uncertainty to fight off regulations that would help ensure public safety. Congress must hold these polluters accountable for the harm they continue to cause – the safety of our water systems and the air we breathe is at stake.
If you have any questions or would like to become a cosponsor, please contact Beth Hammon in my office at Beth.Hammon@mail.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Harley Rouda
Member of Congress
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