Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). This class of chemicals are widely used to make carpets, fabrics for furniture, Teflon coatings for cookware, paper packaging for food and other everyday materials. They’re even used
in firefighting foam (aqueous film forming foam; AFFF) to extinguish commercial and military fires.
PFAS chemicals can’t be broken down in an environment and effectively poison water sources. Right now, scientists estimate that more than 100 million Americans are drinking PFAS-contaminated water. This contamination
is strongly linked to cancer, thyroid problems, reproductive system damage and stunting of children’s growth and development.
A few of the important provisions in the NDAA that will help safeguard Americans from toxic PFAS chemicals:
• Quickly phase out military use of PFAS in firefighting foam
• Require the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide clean water to agricultural producers and dairies with contaminated water supplies
• Require community notification of DOD PFAS detections on and near military bases
• Accelerate PFAS cleanup near military and other
federal installations
• Set limits on PFAS discharges into drinking water supplies
• Halt unregulated incineration — the dangerous burning  of PFAS wastes that add toxics into the air
• Expand water quality monitoring for PFAS
• Provide additional $5 million for Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) study of PFAS contaminated communities
• Require government oversight to study DOD’s failure to clean-up PFAS contamination
• Create an online health database for military members
• Designate PFAS as hazardous substances under
the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) known also as the Superfund law.

Congress must not give into Trump’s veto threat, and pass this strong NDAA with ALL provisions to regulate PFAS. Implementing these urgent safeguards will help to protect service members, families and children in
frontline communities.

Talking Points ON the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

•  We need to stop the continued polluting of our water by ending the use of PFAS and clean up existing contamination.
•  For years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the military have known about PFAS contamination and failed to protect communities. It’s time for Congress to act and hold them accountable in requiring chemical companies and the military to cleanup PFAS contamination.
• We must ban the use of PFAS in military firefighting foam as quickly as possible. The Senate passed a version that set a strict three year phase-out.
• This action alone will go a long way to stop the continued pollution of drinking water.  The banning of these dangerous foams is not only necessary, it’s achievable.
•  Governments in Washington and Colorado have already banned the use of PFAS in foams in their states
•  More PFAS-free foams are being introduced every year and the military can easily meet this deadline.
• Communities and water companies have already paid millions to clean up contamination. Adding PFAS to Superfund and Clean Water Act Hazardous Substances lists will ensure faster cleanup of polluted.

• Everyone, no matter zip code, gender or race, deserves clean drinking water. We must safeguard frontline communities from the damage of PFAS.
• The health of moms, kids, and future generations depend on strong action by the federal government.
• We must call on the government to protect public health and the environment. for populations most susceptible to chemical contamination — like women,
children and servicemembers — we need solutions centered on phasing out these chemicals and making urgent the cleanup of the contamination left behind.