Reps. McDonald Rivet, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bill to Advocate for Families Affected by PFAS

WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) introduced bipartisan legislation to better support families affected by PFAS contamination. 

“Communities affected by PFAS created by military facilities deserve swift answers and action from our government,” said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet. “Empowering a PFAS coordinator at the Defense Department will make cleanup efforts more transparent and effective by streamlining conversations between the military, local governments, and residents. As a co-chair of the Congressional PFAS Task Force, I’m proud to work with Congressman Fitzpatrick to put forward this commonsense solution to help impacted families.”

“PFAS contamination is one of the most serious and far-reaching public health crises of our time. Alongside Congresswoman McDonald Rivet, confronting this threat has been central to our bipartisan mission in Congress,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Our legislation demands real accountability and urgency from the Department of Defense—ensuring that families in Pennsylvania and across the country are no longer overlooked or left behind. Impacted communities deserve answers, swift cleanup, and the full commitment of their government to safeguard their health, safety, and future.”

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” are used in a wide array of products like firefighting foams, nonstick pans, food packaging, cosmetics, and fabrics. Some PFAS have harmful effects, and their widespread use has contaminated soil, surface water, groundwater, and food across the country. These forever chemicals have also contaminated hundreds of military sites across the country and have been linked to a number of health impacts, including damage to the immune system and an increased risk of developing certain cancers. 

The bill introduced today would create a new, high-level position at the Pentagon called the Coordinator for PFAS-Impacted Defense Engagement. This position would serve as a direct advocate for affected families — boosting transparency, driving remediation, and ensuring the government delivers results. Under the legislation, the PFAS coordinator would be responsible for:

1. Engaging directly with affected communities to address concerns, ensure government accountability, and provide updates on remediation efforts.
2. Streamlining communication between local stakeholders, advocacy organizations, and federal agencies.
3. Driving progress on cleanup efforts with transparency and urgency.

This bill builds on Congresswoman McDonald Rivet’s ongoing work to address PFAS contamination. As a co-chair of the Congressional PFAS Task Force, Congresswoman McDonald Rivet is working with Republicans and Democrats to advance legislation to end PFAS pollution, raise awareness about the health and environmental impacts of PFAS exposure, and secure federal investments in research, remediation, and prevention.