Democrats trying to keep transportation spending bill on track – – NJTODAY.NET

The US Senate Appropriations Committee approved a transportation spending bill that sets aside $70 million to help airports transition to firefighting foams that do not contain the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.

The funding contrasts sharply with the House version of the bill, which would allot just $5 million to shift to PFAS-free aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, as Republicans seek to preserve pollution and homelessness.

Congress will have to reconcile the differences between the two versions of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, or T-HUD, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill.

AFFF is one of the most significant sources of water contamination from toxic PFAS, known to cause a number of health harms, including cancer, reproductive harm, immune system damage and other serious problems.

Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization law created a five-year, $350 million grant program to help airports kick-start the shift away from PFAS-containing foam. The Senate T-HUD bill would fully fund the program’s first year, at $70 million.

“Replacing PFAS-laden foams is crucial for public health and environmental protection,” said Jessica Hernandez, policy director for government affairs at the Environmental Working Group. 

“We praise the Senate Appropriations Committee and the T-HUD subcommittee leadership for prioritizing funding this important program, which will help airports move to PFAS-free firefighting foams,” she said.

Hernandez thanked Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), T-HUD Subcommittee Chair Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) and Ranking Member Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), along with Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), for making the foam grant program a priority.

The Senate bill also allocates $4.52 billion to improvements in airport infrastructure and safety, and reductions in emissions.

Safer foam alternatives exist

PFAS-based firefighting foams and gear have been widely used by the military, fire training centers and airports for five decades. In the course of doing their critical work, firefighters have routinely faced toxic exposure to forever chemicals. And the chemicals have polluted water supplies.

“Decades of using PFAS-laden foams have contributed to drinking and groundwater contamination for many communities who live near airports. They should not have to wait any longer for airports to transition to PFAS-free foams,” said Melanie Benesh, EWG’s vice president of government affairs. 

Despite knowing PFAS build up in the blood and pose severe health risks, manufacturers hid the truth for decades and fought to keep these foams on the market.

“There are market-ready PFAS-free firefighting foams that are safe and effective,” said Benesh.

PFAS-free foams are already on the market. Since 2019, more than 100 fluorine-free foams were available from 24 manufacturers. They meet the international aviation standards used by airports around the world and should immediately be adopted by the military and airports in the U.S.