Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washougal, has introduced bipartisan legislation to ban government agencies from purchasing products with harmful perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) chemicals.
On Thursday, Gluesenkamp Perez joined Reps. Mike Lawler, R-New York, Bill Posey, R-Florida, Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pennsylvania, Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire, Katie Porter, D-California, and Haley Stevens, D-Michigan, in introducing the PFAS-Free Procurement Act.
“PFAS chemicals, even in small amounts, can have harmful impacts on our health and the development of our kids,” Gluesenkamp Perez said in a statement. “It’s critical that we work to get these forever chemicals out of our communities’ water and soil and that we aren’t putting more into our environment. Our government has an opportunity to lead by example, so I’m introducing this bipartisan legislation to ensure our significant federal purchasing power isn’t used on products containing PFAS.”
If passed, the PFAS-Free Procurement Act will prevent federal agencies from purchasing items containing perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) such as cookware, furniture and carpeting. According to lawmakers, PFAS can contaminate water, air, soil and food products, and studies have indicated that PFAS may impact developmental, immune and reproductive health.
“All Americans deserve to live long, healthy lives free from dangerous health problems caused by toxic chemicals,” Porter said in a statement. “This bipartisan proposal would expand protections for people visiting federal facilities and limit the use of taxpayer dollars to purchase PFAS-contaminated products. As a member of the Congressional PFAS Task Force, I’ll keep working tirelessly with my colleagues to eliminate the use of toxic forever chemicals.”
