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PFAS Exposure Assessment and Documentation Act
12/31/2022, 5:08 AM
Summary of Bill HR 4340
The main provisions of the bill include requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a program for assessing and documenting PFAS exposure in communities across the country. This program would involve conducting studies to determine the extent of PFAS contamination in water, soil, and air, as well as assessing the health effects of exposure to these chemicals.
Additionally, the bill would require the EPA to develop guidelines for monitoring and testing for PFAS in drinking water and other sources of contamination. It would also provide funding for states and local governments to clean up PFAS contamination and provide assistance to communities affected by exposure to these chemicals. Overall, the PFAS Exposure Assessment and Documentation Act aims to increase awareness of the risks associated with PFAS exposure and take steps to protect public health and the environment from the harmful effects of these chemicals.
Congressional Summary of HR 4340
PFAS Exposure Assessment and Documentation Act
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to include in various health evaluations an assessment of whether a member of the Armed Forces has been exposed to perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS.
Specifically, the bill requires DOD to ensure that any periodic health assessment, physical assessment for recently separated members, pre-deployment medical examination, post-deployment medical examination, and post-deployment health reassessment provided to a member of the Armed Forces includes an evaluation of whether the member has been exposed to PFAS or was based or stationed at a military installation with a known or suspected release of PFAS during the period the member was there.
If any of the evaluations result in a positive determination of potential exposure to PFAS, DOD must provide blood testing during the evaluation to be included in the member's health record.
DOD must pay for blood testing to determine and document potential exposure to PFAS for former members of the Armed Forces or family members of such members who lived at a location identified by DOD as having a known or suspected PFAS release during the time the individuals lived there.
DOD must share results of the evaluations with the Department of Veterans Affairs and establish a registry of members of the Armed Forces who have been exposed to, or suspected to have been exposed to, PFAS. Members may elect to be excluded from the registry.
