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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) issued the following statement after the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first step to set a national drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS as a part of their PFAS Action Plan:

“The longer the EPA drags this process out, the more people will continue to be poisoned by these harmful forever chemicals. The action EPA took this week is a small, procedural step in a process with no promises about actually setting a standard—and long overdue.  We cannot be fooled. This country has we only a guideline for PFAS, not an enforceable drinking water standard—which we needed yesterday! 

“The EPA is taking the longest route possible on PFAS. Action is necessary to address this expanding national health and environmental crisis, and it is not happening. It is clear, the EPA still fails to recognize the urgency to act swiftly,” said Dingell.

Dingell is a passionate advocate for clean drinking water. Calling for everyone to learn from the Flint Water Crisis, Dingell is active in the response to PFAS contamination in Michigan and across the country. In January, the House passed Dingell’s bipartisan, comprehensive legislation to address the toxic forever chemicals, including listing PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the EPA’s Superfund program to accelerate the clean-up process at military facilities and in communities across the country.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler is scheduled to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, February 27 at 10 am. Dingell will ask him about the Agency’s PFAS Action Plan during the hearing.

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