New House Republican proposal seeks to exempt many toxic PFAS from review

By Tom Perkins | The Guardian | April 7, 2025

Read the full article by Tom Perkins (The Guardian)

"A new Republican plan would exempt many new toxic Pfas or “forever chemicals” from health and safety review, a move criticized by opponents because it would allow the dangerous man-made substances to be used and sold with little effective scrutiny.

Two House Republican lawmakers introduced a resolution under the Congressional Review Act that would repeal a 2024 Joe Biden rule that closed the “low volume exemption” loophole for Pfas. The loophole allowed Pfas and chemicals produced in small enough quantities to be sent to the marketplace with virtually no review from federal regulators.

But Pfas are so highly toxic that even small amounts are considered dangerous, said Michael Youhana, an attorney with the Earthjustice non-profit that has litigated over the loophole."