WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) today released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to drop some limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water that officials had determined can cause cancer and other serious health problems.
“PFAS, or forever chemicals, poison our water, our soil, and our bodies and they don’t go away.The EPA set limits to keep us safe, and now this Administration wants to throw that out the window.
“Michigan communities like Flint, Oscoda, and Grayling know what it means to lose access to safe drinking water. For all those Michiganders who’ve worked on this issue, know that I am with you in this fight. This isn’t over.”
Important background:
- In her six years in the House, Slotkin championed legislation to protect Michiganders from forever chemicals. This includes legislation like Prioritizing PFAS-Free Cleaning Products Act, DOD PFAS Cleanup Act of 2024 and the PFAS Strictest Standard Act.
- In the Senate, Slotkin has remained a outspoken advocate for national drinking water standards for PFAS. She has led a number of provisions related to PFAS in annual National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) that have been signed into law, including:
- A measure requiring the DoD to publish results of drinking and ground water.
- PFAS testing conducted on or near military installations or former defense sites.
- Facilitating the development of alternative gear for service members that is not laden with forever chemicals.
- As a Member of Congress, Slotkin has questioned senior Department of Defense officials at dozens of hearings about reaffirming the departments commitments to clean up PFAS contamination in Michigan communities.
- This includes pressing Secretary of the Air Force, Troy E. Meink, on cleaning contamination from air base firefighting chemicals.
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