Harder Votes to Pass Bipartisan Clean Water Bill Impacting Modesto, Lathrop, Sacramento, Stockton and Others

WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) voted to pass a landmark bipartisan bill that aims to protect every Central Valley family from dangerous chemicals in their water. While California requires the reporting of PFAS, neither the state or the federal government set safe drinking water standards. The PFAS Action Act of 2021 will establish a national drinking water standard for select per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that currently impact water systems in Modesto, Lathrop, Sacramento, Stockton and others. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) over 200 million Americans are drinking contaminated water.

"Every family deserves access to clean, safe drinking water. It's as simple as that," said Rep. Harder. "This legislation will do a world of good for families in Modesto, Lathrop, and across the Central Valley. We know where this problem is, we know how to fix it, we've got bipartisan support do it, so let's get it done."

The PFAS Action Act would do the following to protect our air, land, and water from harmful PFAS contamination:

• Require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a national drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS within two years that protects public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations.
• Designate PFOA and PFOS chemicals as hazardous substances within one year and requires EPA to determine whether to list other PFAS within five years.
• Designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous air pollutants within 180 days and requires EPA to determine whether to list other PFAS within five years.
• Require EPA to place discharge limits on industrial releases of PFAS and provides $200 million annually for wastewater treatment.
• Prohibit unsafe incineration of PFAS wastes and places a moratorium on the introduction of new PFAS into commerce.
• Require comprehensive PFAS health testing.
• Create a voluntary label for PFAS in cookware.