Rep. Carbajal’s Bipartisan Bills Combating PFAS Contamination Approved by House, Headed to President’s Desk

Congress approved Rep. Carbajal’s ‘Clean Airport Agenda,’ which creates a new grant program to help airports transition away from PFAS firefighting foams and requires routine updates from federal agencies for implementing phase out of toxic ‘forever chemicals’

[On] Wednesday, May 15, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives approved Congressman Salud Carbajal’s (CA-24) ‘Clean Airport Agenda’, a slate of bipartisan bills aimed at helping curb the threat of forever chemicals near airports. The bills are part of the bicameral aviation policy package now headed to President Joe Biden’s desk for him to sign into law.

The ‘Clean Airport Agenda’ includes Rep. Carbajal’s Pollution-Free Aviation Sites (PFAS) Act, which establishes a grant program to support airports as they replace firefighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It also contains the Save Our Airports Reporting Act, which requires regular progress reports from federal agencies as airports phase out these ‘forever chemicals.’ 

“Clean and safe drinking water is paramount to protecting the health of our communities. But our regional airports pose risks to that threat through no fault of their own. Their use of foams containing PFAS chemicals was a requirement of the federal government, and so we should ensure the federal government is helping them phase out these chemicals once and for all,” said Rep. Carbajal. “My Clean Airport Agenda not only gives these airports a helping hand to transition to safer firefighting foams, but it also ensures we are holding federal agencies accountable for their plans to phase out these toxic tools. I am proud to see agreement from all sides of Congress on this key priority, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

Rep. Carbajal’s ‘Clean Airport Agenda’ is part of the bicameral aviation policy legislation under sections 762 and 767. 

Last week, the bicameral aviation policy legislation passed through the Senate. After its passage in the House today, it is expected to be signed into law before the current authorization expires on May 17. 

The Rep. Carbajal-led bills are also co-led by Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) and Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03).

“I’m pleased that the Save our Airports Act has been incorporated into this year’s FAA Reauthorization Act,” said Congressman Lawler. “I was proud to join my colleagues Representatives Carbajal and Van Orden to introduce this legislation last year, which will facilitate the transition of our nation’s airports away from the use of PFAS-containing foams, helping ensure the safety of travelers, airport staff, and surrounding communities. As a member of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force, ensuring that Americans are safe from PFAS chemical exposure remains one of my top concerns, and I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues in both parties on this important priority.”

“The federal government is long overdue in their work to combat the PFAS contamination they created,” said Rep. Van Orden. “My constituents, and Americans across the nation, should be able to access safe, clean water. I am very proud to see these two bipartisan bills included in this year’s FAA bill and thank Reps. Carbajal and Lawler for their collaboration in getting folks the water quality they deserve.”

The bills are supported by the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, the Santa Maria Airport, and the Santa Barbara airport, as well as airport-focused and firefighter safety organizations such as the International Association of Fire Fighters, Airports Council International — North America, the California Airports Council, and the Environmental Working Group.