Pallone & Tonko Applaud EPA’s New Proposed Drinking Water Standards for Toxic PFAS Chemicals

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Ranking Member Paul Tonko (D-NY) released the following statement today applauding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new proposed drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS:

“PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ are being found in everything from our drinking water to our household supplies, posing an urgent and growing public health threat to communities across the country. We are thrilled the Biden EPA is stepping up to tackle this issue with strong, enforceable standards to protect Americans’ drinking water from these insidious chemicals. Every American deserves safe, clean drinking water. We applaud EPA for being a dedicated partner in this fight and working to ensure that Americans can trust the water coming out of their tap. We look forward to continuing to work together to protect Americans from dangerous PFAS contamination.”

PFAS are a class of toxic chemicals – often referred to as “forever chemicals” for how long they take to break down – that have been linked to increased cancer risks, immune impacts, and effects on growth, development, and fertility. Last year, Democrats included $9 billion in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities address PFAS contamination in drinking water.

###