Portland Maine News

On June 27, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) led a bipartisan letter to the leadership of the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture urging them to address harmful PFAS (per- and polyfluoralkyl substances) contamination in the 2023 Farm Bill to help provide safe, clean water to farmers and rural communities, and support farmers impacted by PFAS contamination.

“The use of PFAS chemicals in various industrial and commercial applications has led to widespread contamination, posing a significant threat to our environment, public health, and agricultural systems,” the Senators and Representatives wrote. “It is imperative that we take decisive action to provide assistance and relief to those affected by PFAS.”

The letter urges the Committees to include two bipartisan bills aimed at providing assistance and relief to farmers and rural communities who bear the brunt of PFAS contamination. The Healthy H2O Act, introduced by Representatives Pingree and David Rouzer (R-N.C.) and Senators Baldwin and Collins, provides grants for water testing and treatment technology directly to individuals and non-profits in rural communities. The legislation would help ensure that the nearly 43 million households who rely on groundwater through private wells have access to the tools they need to keep their drinking water safe. 

The Senators and Representatives also called for The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act to be included in the Farm Bill. This bicameral legislation, introduced by Pingree and the Maine Delegation, would authorize grants for states to provide financial assistance to affected farmers, expand monitoring and testing, remediate PFAS, or even help farmers relocate. 

PFAS are man-made “forever” chemicals that are used in industry and consumer products and can lead to serious health effects. PFAS contamination has prevented some Maine farms from selling their products, creating financial hardship for many family farmers. In 2016, a dairy farmer in Arundel discovered that the milk produced on his farm contained some of the highest levels ever reported for a PFAS contaminant.  In 2020, a dairy farm in Fairfield found PFAS levels in its milk were 153 times higher than the Maine standard.  An organic vegetable farm in Unity uncovered PFAS contamination last year, and the couple who farmed the land have higher PFAS levels in their blood than chemical plant workers who manufactured PFAS for decades. Numerous other Maine farmers have had their livelihoods disrupted due to PFAS contamination, which originated in sludge that was spread as fertilizer by farmers who were told by the government that it was safe to use.

“These provisions will not only offer crucial assistance to farmers affected by PFAS contamination, but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of our water and food production systems and safeguard public health,” continued the Senators and Representatives. “Together, we can work towards protecting our farmers, our rural communities, and our natural resources from the devastating impacts of PFAS contamination.”

In addition to Pingree, Baldwin, and Collins, the bipartisan letter was co-signed by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Michael Lawler (R-N.Y.), and Gwen Moore (D-Wis.). 

A copy of this letter is available here and below. 

Pingree, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, has long championed PFAS clean-up and clean drinking water legislation. She proudly supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included a $55 billion investment to replace lead service lines, $10 billion to address PFAS chemicals, and investments in water infrastructure across America, including in Tribal Nations and disadvantaged communities that need it most.

As Chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the EPA, in the 117thCongress and as Ranking Member in the 118th Congress, Pingree has championed funding to clean up PFAS. In the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill signed by President Biden, Pingree secured $8 million for the EPA to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to further research on PFAS contamination in agriculture, as well as $5 million to assist farmers whose land has been contaminated by PFAS.

Addressing PFAS contamination is a top priority for Pingree as she and her House Agriculture Committee colleagues work to reauthorize the must-pass Farm Bill.

Dear Chair Stabenow, Ranking Member Boozman, Chair Thompson, and Ranking Member Scott,

As you consider the 2023 Farm Bill, we write to express our support for the inclusion of measures that address PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination, particularly in rural communities. Including these provisions is critical to the health and economic prosperity of the agricultural sector.

The use of PFAS chemicals in various industrial and commercial applications has led to widespread contamination, posing a significant threat to our environment, public health, and agricultural systems. Farmers and rural communities, in particular, bear the brunt of this contamination, as it affects their drinking water, soil quality, and livestock health. It is imperative that we take decisive action to provide assistance and relief to those affected by PFAS. We therefore urge the Senate Agriculture Committee to include the following bipartisan legislation in the 2023 Farm Bill:

1. The Healthy H2O Act: This legislation aims to address PFAS contamination in water supplies by providing funding for water testing, treatment, and remediation. By allocating resources to support the implementation of effective PFAS filtration systems, we can ensure that farmers and rural communities have access to clean and safe water, protecting both human health and agricultural productivity.
2.  The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act: This bill seeks to provide financial assistance and support to farmers affected by PFAS contamination. By establishing a comprehensive assistance program, we can help farmers mitigate the economic burdens resulting from PFAS-related disruptions and implement necessary remediation efforts. Additionally, this act can support research and education initiatives to enhance farmers' awareness and understanding of PFAS risks and best management practices.

 By including the Healthy H2O Act and the Relief for Farmers Hit With PFAS Act in the Farm Bill, Congress can demonstrate our commitment to the well-being of our agricultural sector and rural communities. These provisions will not only offer crucial assistance to farmers affected by PFAS contamination, but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of our water and food production systems and safeguard public health.

 Together, we can work towards protecting our farmers, our rural communities, and our natural resources from the devastating impacts of PFAS contamination. Thank you for your attention to this matter and consideration of this request.

 Sincerely,

Original source can be found here