Ambler, PA: Today, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), and Madeleine Dean (PA-04) held a press conference to announce a $1 million federal grant for research on the health effects of PFAS exposure. PFAS chemicals have long been used in a range of consumer products, and the military continues to use aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in firefighting training exercises.
“This grant program and the research it will fund is a great step forward to solving this ongoing public health crisis,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “As the co-chair of the Bipartisan PFAS Task Force, I have seen firsthand that PFAS chemicals have serious health consequences, and hopefully this grant will help provide new insights about these consequences and how they are affecting the people of Pennsylvania. We must act quickly to prevent the spread of these dangerous chemicals and hold those responsible for this crisis accountable.”
“Americans have a right to safe drinking water,” said Congressman Boyle. “From my first term in Congress, I have been fighting to bring the full force of the federal government to bear on this issue in Pennsylvania. I am hopeful that these health screenings will help us better understand the health impacts of years – if not decades – of past exposure to these chemicals.”
“We’ve known about PFAS contamination coming from our military bases for years, and we know that these chemicals are linked to cancers, impaired immune system performance, and other serious health risks,” said Congresswoman Dean. “Bringing this funding to Pennsylvania and Montgomery County will help our leading scientists study the issue more closely – which will help us design the most effective policies for keeping our citizens safe.”
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) selected Montgomery County as one of seven sites for a nationwide study on PFAS exposure and its health consequences. At the press conference, representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Temple University’s School of Public Health were on hand to discuss how the study will unfold – and how it will help scientists address unanswered questions.
The Representatives also discussed federal legislative efforts to tackle PFAS, including their shared work on the bipartisan PFAS Task Force.
The event was held at Temple University’s Ambler campus.