Q&A: U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland on Providing Compensation to PFAS-Exposed Firefighters

As more scientific research and scholarship emerges around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), there has been a heightened emphasis among some regulators and lawmakers to develop safeguards to protect exposed workers and civilians from the health hazards PFAS present.

Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-Wa.) of Washington’s 10th Congressional District and the former mayor of Tacoma, Wa., has crafted a bill (H.R. 6946) with her colleague Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fl.), which aims to establish a compensation fund for military firefighters exposed to PFAS via aqueous firefighting foam (AFFF). Posey has expressed an interest in mitigating PFAS contamination at least since 2020, including through his support of the PFAS Action Act, introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mi.) in its first iteration in 2021.

If passed, the legislation could significantly impact the regulatory landscape by providing a mechanism for compensating those directly affected by PFAS exposure, thereby setting a precedent for future regulations related to occupational exposure to hazardous substances.