North Michigan News

Reps. Jack Bergman and Kristen McDonald Rivet have introduced the Military PFAS Transparency Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the Department of Defense's (DoD) efforts to clean up per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination around military facilities. The legislation seeks to address concerns from over 600 communities across the United States affected by these "forever chemicals."

Congresswoman McDonald Rivet emphasized the importance of providing clarity and answers to those impacted by PFAS contamination. "Our government owes the communities and people affected by PFAS clarity and answers," she stated. She further noted that the act would help Michigan families by requiring regular updates from DoD on their cleanup efforts, making the process more responsive and accountable.

Congressman Bergman highlighted the need for action, stating, "I’m proud to introduce this important bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. McDonald Rivet as we push federal bureaucracies to take real, meaningful action on PFAS cleanup. The problem has been studied extensively—it’s time to act." He added that the bill aims to transform analysis into accountability.

PFAS are widely used in products such as firefighting foams, food packaging, cosmetics, and fabrics. Their use has led to contamination of soil, water, and food across the country, including at numerous military installations. Some PFAS have been linked to health issues like immune system damage and increased cancer risk.

The Military PFAS Transparency Act proposes several measures:

1. **Annual Reporting**: The DoD must submit yearly reports detailing funding, progress, barriers for all interim remediation efforts, timelines, performance metrics, and status updates.

2. **Improved Cleanup Strategies**: The DoD is required to commit to more efficient strategies prioritizing risk-based cleanup while increasing lab testing capacity.

3. **Public Dashboard**: A public online dashboard must be created within a year to display updated data on cleanup efforts.

The bill has received endorsements from organizations such as the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Tony Spaniola from the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network praised the bill for putting impacted communities at the center of Pentagon cleanups. Bentley Johnson from the Michigan League of Conservation Voters highlighted its potential for reducing exposure risks through improved transparency.

Dr. Michael J. Goff of the Northeast-Midwest Institute stressed that knowing how government responds is critical for improving outcomes in affected areas.

Support also comes from other Congressional PFAS Task Force co-chairs: Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans.