PRESS RELEASE - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced today that they’ll introduce bipartisan legislation next week that would require the Department of Defense to include blood testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as part of routine physicals for military firefighters. The Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act builds on the Senators’ efforts to prioritize actions that respond to the potential health effects of occupational exposure to PFAS, particularly in firefighters. The bill has been endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

Background:

• In March, Senator Murkowski recently joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing the PFAS Action Act of 2019.

• In December, Shaheen and Murkowski sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), requesting they take additional steps to ensure potential health impacts in firefighters are sufficiently studied.

• A bipartisan companion bill will be introduced by Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ) in the House of Representatives.