CHAIRMAN ROUDA OPENING STATEMENT - PANEL ONE

CHAIRMAN ROUDA OPENING STATEMENT - PANEL TWO

PURPOSE

This hearing will be a follow up to the Subcommittee hearing on July 24, 2019, which focused on the human impact of industrial contamination of PFAS chemicals and steps state governments are taking to hold industry accountable for their past efforts to conceal the science linking PFAS chemicals to health risks.  

BACKGROUND

• Key documents and facts demonstrating DuPont’s and 3M’s knowledge of PFAS dangers have emerged due to litigation brought by two witnesses, Rob Bilott and Lori Swanson, the former Minnesota Attorney General. 
   
• Chemical companies are using several tactics to evade liability for the costs of PFAS- related contamination.
   
• According to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, at least 475 industrial facilities could be discharging PFAS into the water.  
   
• This July, the House of Representatives passed an amended version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (H.R. 2500), which included PFAS-related provisions, including a provision that designates PFAS as a “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).  The current Senate version of the NDAA does not include the CERCLA provision.