WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) in a bipartisan letter to Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and White House officials urging for increased funding for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) testing and remediation, and to improve PFAS-related planning to make use of the higher funding levels Congress is willing to appropriate to address the pervasive issue.
“As you know, PFAS chemicals have emerged as widespread contaminants to the drinking water sources of military bases across the country largely due to their presence in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used by the military. Members of the military, veterans and civilians who have served at military installations and/or live in the surrounding communities found to have been contaminated with PFAS face health risks related to exposure to PFAS chemicals, as these materials are found in AFFF, in personal protective equipment used by firefighters and in standard consumer products,” wrote the Senators.
In Nevada, high levels of PFAS contamination have been found at Creech and Nellis Air Force Bases. Senator Rosen has been a leader in the fight against PFAS exposure at military operations. Last year, she questioned officials from the Department of Defense and Environmental Protection Agency about PFAS contamination on military bases in Nevada. And her bipartisan legislation to address PFAS on military bases was signed into law last year as part of the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act.
“Our service members, military families, veterans and defense communities deserve the Department’s full attention to appropriately address the scope and severity of PFAS contamination. We ask you to honor that responsibility and take the steps necessary to prioritize this hazard impacting our communities,” the senators concluded.
The senators’ letter can be read in full aquí.
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