US Congress House Bill 7687 (Prior Session Legislation)

---

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: Introduced on July 20 2020 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2020-07-21 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Addresses firefighter and veteran exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS. These substances are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds (e.g., weatherproof clothing). The bill authorizes the use of pre-disaster hazard mitigation funding for the remediation of PFAS at fire training facilities. The National Institute of Standards and Technology in the Department of Commerce must commence a study and report on the contents and composition of new and unused personal protective equipment worn by firefighters in relation to PFAS. For certain conditions associated with exposure to PFAS, the bill provides eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital care and medical services to veterans who served on active duty at military installations at which individuals were exposed to PFAS. Service by veterans as reservists or civilian firefighters shall be considered active duty service for eligibility purposes if such service occurred during a period specified by the VA on the applicable military installations. The bill also provides eligibility for VA hospital care and medical services for exposure-related conditions to the family members of such veterans and civilian firefighters. The bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified illnesses or diseases related to PFAS exposure that manifest in veterans (including reservists or veterans serving as civilian firefighters) who served on active duty at a military installation where they were exposed to PFAS. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.

Protecting Firefighters from PFAS Act

Rep. Daniel Kildee [D-MI]

Rep. James McGovern [D-MA]

Rep. Elissa Slotkin [D-MI]

Date	Chamber	Action
2020-07-21	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
2020-07-20	House	Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2020-07-20	House	Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2020-07-20	House	Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2020-07-20	House	Introduced in House

HB2102 (Related) 2019-04-29 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
SB1023 (Related) 2019-04-03 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
HB7560 (Related) 2020-07-09 - Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7687/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr7687/BILLS-116hr7687ih.pdf