Dingell and McDonald Rivet to co-chair congressional PFAS task force
Two Michigan Democrats announced they will serve as co-chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force, working to stem the spread of so-called 'forever chemicals' in communities across the nation.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) and Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) will serve as the committee's Democratic co-chairs, alongside Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.) and Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), one of the task force's founding members.
PFAS, a family of chemicals which are heat and oil resistant, are commonly used in products like nonstick cookware, carpeting, waterproof clothing and food packaging. The chemicals break down very slowly and can accumulate in the blood and organs of people and animals. Alongside products manufactured using PFAS, the chemicals can be found in food, drinking water and in the soil and water near waste sites.
Labeled as an emerging contaminant by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, PFAS has been linked to several health conditions including harm to the immune system, increased risks of certain cancers —including prostate, kidney and testicular cancers — decreased fertility, high blood pressure in pregnant women and developmental delays or effects on children.
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The state has previously estimated there are more than 11,000 sites within the state contaminated by PFAS, with the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team identifying 300 sites where groundwater has been contaminated by the hazardous chemicals.
'In Michigan we know all too well the urgent, growing threat PFAS pose. It's more important than ever we're taking serious action in Congress to keep PFAS out of our homes, water, and environment, hold polluters accountable, and clean up existing contamination,' Dingell said in a statement.
Over the next two years, the task force's priorities will include:
Advancing comprehensive legislation to end harmful PFAS pollution.
Educating lawmakers and the public on the serious health and environmental consequences of PFAS exposure.
Securing historic federal investments in research, remediation, and prevention.
'Our country needs to address the problems PFAS chemicals create head-on, which is why I'm proud to co-chair the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force with both Republicans and Democrats,' McDonald Rivet said. 'We will work together to raise awareness of the risk of PFAS chemicals and advocate for commonsense solutions for our constituents.'
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