Today on the Hill: House Seeks to Address ‘Forever Chemicals’

House lawmakers are set to begin consideration of a bill that seeks to address controversial “forever chemicals.” The measure would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate all perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances, while also setting up a grant program to award funding to communities with water supplies contaminated by the chemicals. Final passage of the PFAS legislation is expected tomorrow after lawmakers consider 22 amendments to the underlying bill today.  

Additionally, the House will take up a “War Powers” resolution that seeks to limit U.S. military action against Iran. Designed as a rebuke of the drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the measure would limit President Donald Trump’s authority to take further military action against Iran absent a new Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) from Congress. A similar effort has been introduced by Democrats in the upper chamber and will likely be considered next week. 

Meanwhile, the Senate will continue working through pending presidential nominations to close out its work week. Senators will vote on Paul Ray’s nomination to be Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) later this morning.