The bipartisan Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act of 2019, cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), on June 27 received U.S. Senate approval, 86-8, as part of a larger defense appropriations bill.
Passage of the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act will improve federal efforts to identify the health impacts of unregulated contaminants found in our drinking water sources,” Sen. Portman said. “This will help the federal government more efficiently and effectively analyze the impacts of, and respond to, emerging contaminants through greater coordination among federal agencies and will provide states with the resources they need to monitor, test and respond to potential risks posed by emerging contaminants.”
S. 1251, introduced on April 30 by Sen. Portman and bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), received Senate approval included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, S. 1790, which authorizes appropriations and policies for military activities of the U.S. Department of Defense, military construction, and U.S. Department of Energy national security programs.
Sen. Portman’s included bill is aimed at combating exposure to emerging contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and would improve coordination across the federal government to identify and respond to them, according to a summary provided by his office.
The proposal also would hasten analysis of such chemicals and provide resources to states dealing with the potential health challenges of PFAS chemicals, which have been found in drinking water sources in several communities across America, including Sen. Portman’s home state of Ohio.
“We must ensure that our drinking water remains safe for all Ohioans and that’s why I am pleased the Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act was included in the Senate-passed NDAA,” said Sen. Portman.
The NDAA now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.