Senators Collins, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Clinicians Provide Care for Patients Exposed to PFAS

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators and Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced bipartisan legislation to better protect the health of Americans who have been exposed to toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Better Care for PFAS Patients Act would ensure the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Research (ATSDR) regularly assesses and updates clinical guidance regarding the health effects from exposure to PFAS. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ATSDR provided clinicians with the first updated guidance since 2019.

“PFAS and other harmful contaminants have been discovered in private water systems in Maine and across the country, and contamination will only become more evident as testing becomes more readily available,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would require the CDC to continuously update clinical guidance on the health effects of PFAS, helping to ensure that medical professionals and citizens have access to the latest information on these substances.”

“As we continue to learn about the health impacts caused by PFAS exposure, it’s critical that health care providers have the most up-to-date guidance so they can best care for their patients,” said Senator Shaheen. “Working to address PFAS contamination in the Granite State, and across the country, continues to be a top priority, which is why I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that takes an important step toward keeping Americans healthy by requiring regular updates to clinician guidance.”

Specifically, the Better Care for PFAS Patients Act would:

1. Require the ATSDR to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) to assess the health effects of PFAS and formulate clinical recommendations within two years of enactment;

2. Direct NASEM to update its assessment of PFAS health effects and clinical guidance every five years or more frequently as determined by ATSDR; and

3. Ensure ATSDR issues its own clinical guidance on addressing the health effects of PFAS within five years of enactment and update that guidance every five years or more frequently as determined by ATSDR.

As lead negotiators of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senators Collins and Shaheen secured $10 billion to specifically address PFAS and other emerging contaminants, $5 billion of which is targeted to small and disadvantaged communities.

In March, Senator Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $17 million to establish a PFAS Center of Excellence at the New England Plant, Soil and Water Research Laboratory through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Agriculture appropriations bill. Senator Collins had previously secured $8,000,000 for UMaine to address PFAS contamination in the Fiscal Year 2023 Commerce, Justice, and Science as well as the Agriculture appropriations bills.

This legislation has been endorsed by the Environmental Working Group, International Association of Fire Fighters, Southern Environmental Law Center, Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water, Testing for Pease and the National PFAS Contamination Coalition.

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