WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) alongside Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Congressman Jerry Nadler (NY-12) and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), reintroduced the PFAS Accountability Act to create a federal cause of action and allow courts to award medical monitoring for victims of PFAS exposure.
The PFAS Accountability Act would allow courts to award medical monitoring for PFAS contamination victims to prevent premature morbidity, disability, or mortality. The legislation would also ensure victims of significant PFAS exposure can bring civil claims against manufacturers of PFAS and incentivize funding for PFAS safety research.
“Victims of PFAS exposure deserve to know how their health and well-being have been compromised — and deserve the ability to demand justice from PFAS manufacturers,” Rep. Dean said. “Clean water is a right, yet communities in my district have long-suffered from the consequences of PFAS. That is why our bill would create a legal pathway for accountability and also fund more research so we better understand the generations of harm caused by PFAS manufacturers”
“For years, companies have knowingly manufactured toxic, carcinogenic chemicals that have devastated families and communities. Those companies must be held accountable for their actions,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Our PFAS Accountability Act would help ensure that those exposed to dangerous PFAS chemicals have legal recourse and are able to access the long-term medical monitoring they need. I’m determined to deliver real justice for the victims of PFAS pollution in New York and across the country.”
“Toxic forever chemicals are hurting communities across America. We know PFAS are linked to serious health issues including increased risk of several kinds of cancer, weakened immune response, and developmental effects in children. This legislation will give people who have been hurt by PFAS the opportunity to get justice, as well as incentivize further research into PFAS and efforts to prevent its further spread,” Congresswoman Dingell said.
This legislation has been endorsed by Waterkeeper Alliance, American Association for Justice, Buxmont Coalition for Safe Water, Environmental Working Group, Green Science Policy Institute, National PFAS Contamination Coalition, Southern Environmental Law Center, NRDC, and Union of Concerned Scientists.
“PFAS exposure has been linked to a number of long-term health issues including cancer, reproductive harm, immune system harm, vaccine efficacy and more," Jessica Hernandez, Legislative Director for Environmental Working Group said. "These PFAS-related chronic diseases develop over time, which is why medical monitoring is critical to securing justice for victims of PFAS pollution. EWG applauds Senator Gillibrand and Congresswoman Dean for reintroducing the PFAS Accountability Act, which will hold polluters accountable and help give victims the justice and support they deserve."
“Families across the country are bearing the heavy toll of PFAS pollution—enduring long-term health risks and rising medical costs that threaten the fabric of our communities,” Jean Zhuang, Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center said. "By reintroducing the PFAS Accountability Act, Senator Gillibrand and Congresswoman Dean are standing with impacted communities to ensure victims can seek medical monitoring and hold polluters financially accountable. This legislation will help ensure that polluters, not people, bear the responsibility for these toxic chemicals."
“Decades of production and use have led to widespread PFAS contamination," Arlene Blum, Executive Director of the Green Science Policy Institute said. "These very persistent and often toxic chemicals are harming the health of people and ecosystems worldwide. This bill will hold manufacturers legally accountable and help stop future PFAS contamination at the source.
Read the full text of the bill here.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
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