House gearing up for PFAS in defense bill

July 9, 2019

Read the full article by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico)

"HOUSE TAKES ITS TURN: The House takes up work this week on what could become its own version of major PFAS legislation as the National Defense Authorization Act heads to the floor.

While Energy and Commerce Committee leaders still hope to craft a deal on a broad, bipartisan PFAS package, lawmakers in the lower chamber could vote on a series of key issues this week that have been teed up as amendments to the defense bill. Recall: that's the legislation that served as the vehicle for the Senate's package on the toxic chemicals.

Watch this one: Among the PFAS-related amendments is one from Michigan Reps. Debbie Dingell and Dan Kildee that would require EPA to designate PFAS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law — a key priority for environmentalists and states weighing how to pay for clean-ups that was absent from the Senate's package. ME hears that amendment is likely to be ruled in order, and that more PFAS amendments could yet be unveiled — despite the filing deadline having long since passed. Sources say that the suit of PFAS provisions that make it to floor consideration are likely to be voted on as a package, en bloc.

Keep the coffee on: The House Rules Committee meets tonight to decide which of the more than 650 amendments will be allowed floor consideration when the House takes up the bill, H.R. 2500 (116)..."