People Over Polluters

Dear Neighbors,

The Biden Administration took a groundbreaking action this week to improve drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first-ever national legally enforceable drinking water standard for PFAS, which will protect 100 million people from PFAS exposure, prevent tens of thousands of serious illnesses, and save lives. PFAS are a class of toxic chemicals – often referred to as “forever chemicals” for how long they take to break down – that have been linked to cancer, damage to the immune system, and negative effects on growth, development, and fertility.

The Biden Administration also announced an additional $1 billion to help every state and territory fund PFAS detection and treatment systems to meet the new standard. This funding is part of the $9 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water – the largest-ever investment in tackling PFAS pollution. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee last Congress, I fought to ensure that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included significant funding to address PFAS contamination.

New Jersey has some of the highest levels of PFAS contamination in the country. While the state is working to address this public health threat by adopting protective state drinking water standards and pursuing natural resource damage cases, there’s still more we need to do. I applaud the Biden Administration’s actions and will continue to fight to make sure everyone can trust the water coming out of the tap.

Curbing Emissions from Cancer-Causing Factories

The EPA also announced this week that it will require over 200 chemical plants to limit the pollution released into the air. The action specifically targets factories that make ethylene oxide, which is used to sterilize medical equipment, and chloroprene, which is used to make rubber. Once this new rule is implemented, it will help reduce the risk of cancer for people who live near industrial sites. Everyone deserves to breathe clean air, regardless of where you live or work. This announcement is another huge win for public health, and I applaud the Biden Administration for putting people over polluters.

Click here to visit my website or call my offices directly if you have questions or need help with a federal agency:

Middlesex County: 732-249-8892

Monmouth County: 732-571-1140

Congressman Pallone