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Slotkin Urges PFAS Provisions Stay in Negotiated NDAA

September 19, 2019

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) urged NDAA conferees to retain strong PFAS provisions in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the major annual bill authorizing national defense spending, as negotiations between the House and Senate kick off today. New reports show that four additional military sites in Michigan are contaminated by PFAS.

"Recently released Department of Defense information revealing 90 additional military sites contaminated with PFAS, including four in Michigan, underscores the critical need to ensure that PFAS provisions we passed in the House NDAA stay in the final defense budget bill as we negotiate with the Senate," Slotkin said.

"As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have continued to push, as recently as today, for provisions to remain in the defense budget that stem the flow of PFAS contamination and hold the DoD accountable for future cleanup," Slotkin continued. "Among many key provisions in the NDAA, we have the opportunity to pass a bill that phases out the use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam as soon as possible, requires the DoD to come up with a plan to clean up contaminated sites, and gives our National Guard in Michigan access to funds for PFAS cleanup."

"As Michigan continues to face the existential threat to clean water, it's time to approach environmental security as a homeland security issue -- and we can do that by passing an NDAA that takes a muscular and urgent approach to this problem."

Slotkin was joined by over 160 members of Congress on both sides of the aisle in sending a letter urging NDAA conferees to retain provisions that ensure our military is equipped to confront the PFAS contamination challenges present at military bases and surrounding communities.

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Issues:Environment