Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin introduces bipartisan bills to address forever chemicals

Michigan Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin is sponsoring two bipartisan bills aimed at curbing so-called forever chemicals. One would boost efforts to clean up perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Michigan, and the other would require accelerated reduction in the use of PFAS-filled products by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Slotkin is the Democratic nominee to fill the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Her Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, received 0% ratings from environmental groups Clean Water Action and the Sierra Club during his time in Congress.

According to the EPA, human exposure to PFAS has been linked with increased cancer risk, developmental problems in children, decreased fertility, and weakened immune systems. 

Several groundwater sites across Michigan have been found to have PFAS contamination.

The Accelerating DoD PFAS Cleanups Act, co-sponsored by Virginia Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans, would require the Pentagon to take action to address PFAS contamination of groundwater from military facilities.

The Prioritizing PFAS-Free Cleaning Products Act, co-sponsored by South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, would require the Defense Department to switch to PFAS-free cleaning products. 

“When it comes to addressing PFAS exposure and contamination, the federal government has kicked the can down the road for way too long, and it’s left our service members and communities across Michigan shouldering the burden,” Slotkin said in an Aug. 9 press release. “These two bipartisan bills will require the Department of Defense to take meaningful steps to clean up these ‘forever chemicals’ and protect the communities and men and women in uniform who have been exposed. Winding down the use of PFAS and cleaning up contaminated areas has been one of my top priorities in Congress – it’s a threat to Michiganders’ way of life, and it’s time for action.”

The Rogers campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story. Rogers accepted a $5,000 campaign contribution on July 31 from the American Chemistry Council PAC. The industry trade group has been a leading force lobbying against regulation of PFAS, according to a November 2023 report by Food & Water Watch.

Slotkin has in the past introduced several other bills aimed at protecting Michiganders and service members from forever chemicals, earning praise from environmental advocates. “No one has worked harder to protect our service members and defense communities than Congresswoman Slotkin,” said Scott Faber, senior vice president for government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, in a press release posted by Slotkin’s office in May 2023.

In July 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives approved Michigan Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell’s PFAS Action Act, requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to designate PFAS as hazardous and to begin working to clean them up.

Slotkin co-sponsored that bill and joined all 217 House Democrats present and 23 Republicans in voting for it. Michigan Reps. Jack Berman, Lisa McClain, John Moolenaar, and Tim Walberg were among 183 Republicans voting no. The proposal died in the Senate.