Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 24, 2018 03:00 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Todd Stephens and Rep. Bernie O'Neill, Rep. Katharine M. Watson |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Urging the Federal Government to Conduct Military Installation Health Study in PA |
| In the near future, we plan to introduce a resolution urging the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services to select the former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania and the former Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster, Pennsylvania for an exposure assessment and study on human health implications of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFASs”) contamination. Over the past several years, public and private drinking water wells in Bucks and Montgomery Counties have been shut down due to contamination from PFASs suspected of being released by the military in the form of firefighting foam. PFASs, and other emerging contaminants are compounds being sampled for the first time in public water systems. In 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency added PFASs to its list of unregulated contaminants that may be hazardous to human health. Pennsylvanians have a right to safe, clean drinking water and they deserve to know if PFASs have compromised their long-term health. The assessment and study will help us understand what the implications are of the exposure and will aid the federal government in conjunction with state and local agencies to reverse the contamination and protect the health and welfare of our residents. If passed, this resolution will be transmitted to the President of the United States, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, United States Secretary of Defense, the presiding officers of each house of Congress, and to each member of Congress from Pennsylvania. We thank you in advance for supporting this resolution. |
Introduced as HR682