Turner’s water contamination amendment passes House in larger bill approval

U.S. Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH) said his amendment regarding water contaminants received approval from the U.S. House of Representatives as part of larger legislation this week.

Rep. Turner’s amendment would require the U.S. Defense Secretary to share monitoring data for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other contaminants collected on United States military installations located adjacent to local city or municipal drinking water utilities, according to his office.

“The most basic need of any community is access to safe, clean water,” said Rep. Turner. “Today’s passage of my amendment will provide greater transparency to communities like mine to reduce PFAS in our water.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2018 released a draft report on the health effects related to PFAS exposure. The report also identified the toxic chemicals in groundwater near more than 126 military installations around the country, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Rep. Turner’s district.

“My community of Dayton, Ohio, is anchored by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,” Rep. Turner said. “Our base, like many others around the nation, continues to deal with the detection of PFAS in our groundwater.”

The congressman continues to advocate for clean water with HHS, the Environmental Protection Agency, and locally with Miami Valley, Ohio, community leaders, according to his office.