Gallagher on PFAS: Inaction is Not an Option

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act of 2019. Included in the bill are two bipartisan amendments co-authored by Rep. Gallagher that would require the Environmental Protection Agency to create a tool that helps people better understand well water test results. H.R. 535 passed the House by a vote of 247 to 159.

"For far too long, toxic chemicals like PFAS have contaminated local water sources, literally poisoning the well from which Wisconsinites drink," said Rep. Gallagher. "Inaction is not an option. We have a responsibility to combat the threats posed by these forever chemicals, and while this bill isn't perfect, it's a step forward in helping communities mitigate the effects of these toxins. I'm glad to see the PFAS Action Act pass the House, and remain committed to working in bipartisan fashion to address this public health crisis and protect our waters."

Specifically, the PFAS Action Act would:

• Protect drinking water from PFAS by requiring the EPA to create a drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS within two years
• Protect the Great Lakes, rivers and streams from PFAS pollution by listing PFOS and PFOA under the Clean Water Act within two years
• Protect our air from PFAS by making PFOS and PFOA hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act
• Require corporate polluters clean up their PFAS contamination by listing PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the CERCLA Act or the Superfund Law.

Background:

Rep. Gallagher is committed to reducing PFAS contamination in Northeast Wisconsin. In Congress, he serves as a member of Climate Solutions caucus, the Great Lakes Task Force, and the PFAS task force. Two bills that Rep. Gallagher co-sponsored, H.R. 2577, the PFAS Right to Know and H.R. 1976, PFAS Detection Act, were recently included in the National Defense Authorization Act.