{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-and-dingell-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-firefighters-from-hazardous-pfas-chemicals-signed-into-law", "Peters & Dingell Bipartisan Bill to Protect Firefighters from Hazardous PFAS Chemicals Signed into Law", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Legislation led by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12) to help protect the health and safety of firefighters and emergency responders from PFAS exposure has been signed into law. The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act directs federal agencies to develop best practices, training, and educational programs to reduce, limit and prevent exposure to PFAS, also known as \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 because they do not naturally break down. The bill would also require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop educational resources for firefighters on alternative foams and personal protective equipment that do not contain PFAS.\n\n\u201cWe need to protect firefighters and first responders from harmful PFAS substances in the line of duty,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cThis new law will help the federal government ensure that our heroes are safe from these forever chemicals that continue to pose a threat to the health and safety of emergency responders in Michigan and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cForever chemicals are an urgent public health threat, especially to our firefighters who are frequently exposed to harmful PFAS in firefighting foams and personal protective equipment as they work to keep us safe,\u201d said Congresswoman Dingell. \u201cI thank Senator Peters for his partnership in getting the PFAS Act over the finish line and President Biden for signing this into law to protect our frontline emergency responders from the dangerous effects of forever chemicals and minimize the spread of PFAS in our environment and communities.\"\n\nEmergency response teams are frequently exposed to harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams and personal protective equipment as they work to keep communities safe. PFAS substances have been linked to a number of health problems, including certain cancers.\n\nThe Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act will direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) \u2013 in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fire Administration, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health \u2013 to develop educational resources to help protect firefighters, emergency response personnel, and the communities they serve from PFAS exposure. This will include information for federal, state, and local firefighters on training and best practices to prevent and reduce exposure to PFAS from firefighting foams and protective gear, as well as resources that identify alternatives for firefighting tools and equipment that do not contain PFAS.\n\nThe legislation builds on Peters\u2019 longstanding efforts to address PFAS contamination. He convened a field hearing in East Lansing with senior federal officials and local stakeholders to examine efforts to clean up PFAS contamination in Michigan. Peters recently introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen and expand federal research on PFAS contamination. Last year, Peters convened a hearing to examine how servicemembers, their families and communities in Michigan and across the country have been harmed by exposure to toxic PFAS substances connected to military sites. In September 2018, Peters helped convene the first hearing on PFAS contamination in the Senate, assessing the federal response to contamination and remediation. He then convened a field summit in Grand Rapids in November 2018 to shine a light on how the local, state and federal governments are coordinating their response to PFAS.\n\nBelow are statements in support of the PFAS Act\n\n\u201cFirefighters are exposed to harmful PFAS chemicals when fighting fires, which could result in disastrous health consequences,\u201d said Kevin Sehlmeyer, State of Michigan Fire Marshal. \u201cBy leading this legislation, Senator Peters continues to show his clear commitment to protecting Michigan\u2019s firefighters from PFAS exposure by providing resources to ensure these brave heroes, who risk their lives to keep our communities safe, are not unnecessarily put at risk in the line of duty.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to Senator Peters for leading this legislation that will protect Michigan\u2019s firefighters from exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals \u2013 which can lead to serious health problems including cancer,\u201d said Matthew Sahr, President of the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union. \u201cThis bipartisan bill shows Senator Peters\u2019 strong commitment to safeguarding and supporting firefighters across our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis critical legislation will help protect the health and safety of firefighters and other rescue personnel as they continue to serve in communities across Michigan,\u201d said Fred Timpner, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Fire Fighters. \u201cThe Michigan Association of Fire Fighters applauds Senator Peters\u2019 continued efforts to protect firefighters in the line of duty \u2013 including by limiting their exposure to harmful PFAS substances.\u201d\n\n\u201cFire fighters and emergency medical responders have dedicated their lives to protecting others. Unfortunately, these brave men and women are exposed to dangerous \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 while serving their communities, subjecting them to higher risks of cancer and other serious health effects,\u201d said Edward A. Kelly, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters. \u201cThe IAFF supports measures to curtail the use of these chemicals and commends Senator Peters for his continuous efforts to help protect fire fighters, emergency medical responders, and the communities they serve from unnecessary PFAS exposure.\"\n\n\u201cI thank Congress for passing this historic legislation. The life of a firefighter is inherently dangerous while also facing a higher risk of cancer than the general population. This legislation will provide important resources to help fire chiefs reduce the risk of their personnel\u2019s exposure to PFAS,\u201d said Chief Donna Black, the President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. \u201cI thank Chairman Peters and all of this bill\u2019s supporters for their tireless work to secure its final passage.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019d like to thank Senator Peters for his leadership on the PFAS Act. Firefighters have a greater risk of contracting and dying from cancer than the general public as a result of duty-related exposures,\u201d said Steve Hirsch, Chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council. \u201cEnactment of this important legislation will lead to improved health and safety outcomes for firefighter, EMS, and rescue personnel.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-and-dingell-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-firefighters-from-hazardous-pfas-chemicals-signed-into-law"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0475548915565014, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}