WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amendments co-sponsored by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) relating to water contamination near active and former military installations were successfully added and passed as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2018/Make America Secure Appropriations Act of 2018 [H.R. 3219] Thursday evening.
An estimated 70,000 Pennsylvanians in Bucks and Montgomery counties have been impacted by the presence of perfluorinated compounds like PFOA and PFOS contaminating public and private drinking water wells surrounding the former Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster, the former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Horsham, and the Horsham Air Guard Station.
The amendments include:
|
|
Boyle (PA), Meehan (PA), Fitzpatrick (PA) |
Bi-Partisan |
Increases by $30 million each the Navy Environmental Restoration Account and the Air Force Environmental Restoration Account for the purpose of remediating perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) drinking water contamination and outreach and engagement with local communities with impacted drinking water systems. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meehan (PA), Boyle (PA), Fitzpatrick (PA), Kildee (MI) |
Bi-Partisan |
Decreases the Operation and Maintenance, Defense Wide account and increases the Environmental Restoration, Defense-Wide by $10 million to allocate funds for the Secretary of Defense to enter into intergovernmental agreements to provide health screenings in communities near formerly used defense sites that have been exposed to perfluorooctanesuflonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid. |
“My constituents have a right to safe, clean drinking water and they deserve to know if PFOS and PFOA have compromised their long-term health,” said Fitzpatrick. “The bipartisan amendment presented provides access to funds for the Navy and Air Force to remediate the damages caused by PFOS and PFOA drinking water contamination through work on their own, and through partnering with state and local entities. The Department of Defense has a duty to remediate the negative effects of the firefighting foam used on their installations, and providing this funding shows Congress stands with those who had their health affected.”