Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act Reintroduced in U.S. Congress

Overview

On Friday, March 10th the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act (S.747), was reintroduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) and Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jared Golden (D-Maine), along with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rep. Leger Fernández (D-NM). The legislation would authorize grants for states to provide financial assistance to farmers affected by PFAS “forever chemicals.” 

Key Components of the Relief for Farmers Hit With PFAS Act

The funds authorized by the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act could be used for a variety of purposes at the state level, including:

• Providing financial assistance to affected farmers;
• Building capacity for PFAS testing for soil or water sources;
• Monitoring blood for individuals to make informed decisions about their health;
• Upgrading or purchasing equipment to ensure a farm remains profitable during or after known PFAS contamination;
• Developing alternative production systems or remediation strategies;
• Developing educational programs for farmers experiencing PFAS contamination; and
• Researching soil and water remediation systems, and the viability of those systems for farms