WASHINGTON – The Environmental Working Group applauds Congress for including several provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, for fiscal year 2024 to tackle the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
The NDAA is legislation that Congress passes each year to make changes to the policies and organization of U.S. defense agencies and to guide how military funding can be spent. The House and Senate have finalized text for the fiscal year 2024 NDAA.
To tackle forever chemicals, the 2024 NDAA includes provisions that will:
- Require the Department of Defense to develop a separate annual budget proposal for PFAS activities, including efforts to cleanup bases contaminated with PFAS.
- Require the DOD to provide and periodically update a PFAS cleanup schedule and cost estimates.
- Help communities participate in the PFAS cleanup process.
- Require the Government Accountability Office to report on PFAS testing and cleanup efforts.
- Provide funding to study the impact of PFAS on defense communities’ health, conducted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
“These provisions will keep the pressure on the DOD to address PFAS contamination at military facilities and reduce exposure to military communities and families,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. “However, Congress must do much more to accelerate the pace of cleanup, including more funding.”
Cleanup funding included in the NDAA for FY 2024 is the lowest level since FY 2019, and EWG has found expected cleanup costs are outstripping available funds.
“Defense communities should not have to wait 50 years or more for their neighbor, the DOD, to clean up the toxic plumes threatening their health,” Faber added.
PFAS chemicals have been confirmed at more than 450 DOD installations, and hundreds more sites may be contaminated. Studies show that exposure to very low levels of PFAS can increase the risk of cancer, harm fetal development and reduce vaccine effectiveness.
PFAS are known as “forever chemicals,” because they build up in our blood and organs, and do not break down in the environment.
EWG applauds the work of:
Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-M.S.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Gary Peters (D-M.I.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-M.A.), Richard Blumenthal (D-C.T.), and Mark Kelly (D-A.Z.).
Reps. Mike Rogers (R-A.L.), Adam Smith (D-W.A.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Bill Posey (R-Fla.), Madeleine Dean (D-P.A.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H), Marilyn Strickland (D-W.A.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-P.A.), Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), Andy Kim (D-.N.J.), Jennifer Kiggans (R-V.A.), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Jasmine Crockett (D-T.X.), Abigail Spanberger (D-V.A.), Ann Kuster (D-N.H.), Kevin Mullin (D-C.A.), Summer Lee (D-P.A.), Salud Carbajal (D-C.A), Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Raul Grijalva (D-A.Z.), Rick Larsen (D-W.A.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-T.X.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Marc Veasey (D-T.X.), Steven Cohen (D-T.N.), Mary Peltola (D-A.K.), Al Green (D-T.X.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Brad Schneider (D-I.L.), Greg Casar (D-T.X.), Sylvia Garcia (D-T.X.), Chris Deluzio (D-P.A.), Jamie Raskin (D-M.D.), Ed Case (D-H.I.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-I.L.), Hillary Sholten (D-M.I.), Matt Gaetz (R-F.L.), Earl Blumenauer (D-O.R.), Jason Crow (D-C.O.), Seth Moulton (D-M.A.), Linda Sanchez (D-C.A.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Mike Levin (D-C.A.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Haley Stevens (D-M.I.), Bill Keating (D-M.A.), Derrick Van Orden (R-W.I.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Bobby Scott (D-V.A.), Jim McGovern (D-M.A.), and Lizzie Fletcher (D-T.X.)
The NDAA will be brought to the full House and Senate this December, marking the 63rd consecutive year this bipartisan legislation has passed Congress and been signed into law.
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
