Today on the Hill: House to Pass Bill Addressing ‘Forever Chemicals’

House lawmakers have reconvened to resume consideration of a measure that seeks to address controversial “forever chemicals,” with final passage of the bill and outstanding amendments set for this morning. The legislation, among other things, would: (1) require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances but not the entire class of PFAS chemicals; (2) establish a grant program to award funding to communities with water supplies that have been contaminated; and (3) promulgate national primary drinking water regulations for these chemicals under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Despite bipartisan support for action on these hazardous chemicals, the lower chamber’s bill faces a difficult path forward after the Trump administration issued a veto threat earlier this week. 

In the upper chamber, Senators have completed legislative business for the week. The Senate will return to action on Monday to consider the nomination of Peter Gaynor to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).