Washington D.C., Jan 10, 2020 / 16:00 pm
House Democrats rejected an amendment that would have added the unborn to a list of "potentially vulnerable populations" deserving of protection from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in a bill that was ultimately passed with bipartisan support.
The bill, H.R. 535 PFAS Action Act of 2019, requires the Environmental Protection Agency to designate PFAS as "hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980."
PFAS are found in a variety of common items, including Teflon pans, paints, and cleaning products, as well as in foam used in fire-fighting equipment. Firefighting foam is often the source of groundwater contamination, which then spreads to plants and animals.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced a motion on Friday that would send the bill back to committee to amend the language to include the unborn. In a speech on the House floor, McMorris Rodgers said it was a "simple, clear, and direct" motion, that "clarifies the protection of 'vulnerable populations' must include any unborn child."