Upton, colleagues ask Mich. governor to reconsider veto of grant for PFAS testing

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and his Michigan Republican colleagues urged their governor to reconsider a decision to veto $15 million in funding for a grant program that allows municipal airports to test and monitor for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of man-made, toxic chemicals.

Michigan has several municipal airports, such as the Dowagiac Municipal Airport in Rep. Upton’s 6th District, that are required to use and test aqueous film forming foam, which contains PFAS that can be released into the groundwater. The grants that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, recently vetoed are critical to allowing such testing, according to the congressman’s office.

“It is imperative that we devote the necessary resources to test municipal airports, where we know there is a high probability of PFAS contamination,” the lawmakers wrote in an Oct. 9 letter to Whitmer. “I hope you reconsider your veto and continue Michigan’s history of being a leader on PFAS testing and clean-up.”

Joining Rep. Upton in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Tim Walberg (R-MI), and Paul Mitchell (R-MI), who told Gov. Whitmer they “are deeply concerned” by her decision to veto the $15 million in grant funding.

“PFAS contamination is such a serious issue in our state and in communities across the nation,” the lawmakers wrote. “We know our fight against PFAS contamination is just starting and we are proud that Michigan has been a leader on this issue, as we are one of the first states to test drinking water statewide and to establish a clean-up standard for PFAS in groundwater used for drinking water.”