Hudson Statement on Bipartisan PFAS Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), a leader on efforts to tackle GenX, issued the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to advance a bipartisan PFAS reform package (H.R. 535) to the House floor:

In September, after consistent pressure from Rep. Hudson, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will begin an investigation to determine what actions the EPA took to verify compliance with requirements of the 2009 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Premanufacture Notice Consent Order with DuPont [Chemours] to prevent release of the chemical GenX into the Cape Fear River basin.

On April 26, 2018, Rep. Hudson questioned Administrator Scott Pruitt and asked, “Was GenX used in a manner that was incompatible with the consent agreement under the Toxic Substances Control Act? Are you in a position to determine that?” To watch this questioning, click here.

Rep. Hudson continues to be on the front lines of this issue. Earlier this year, he met with EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Dave Ross to discuss the Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan. This action plan followed the EPA’s draft toxicity assessment which was released in November 2018 to gather public input.

In September 2018, during a Subcommittee hearing to examine PFAS, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden applauded Rep. Hudson’s leadership saying, “I understand, from Mr. Hudson, that a similar situation exists in his state and I appreciate his efforts to help North Carolinians.” In addition, Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus said, “Many of us are familiar with these substances because of the work of our colleagues, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Upton, and Mr. Hudson, in their districts and states.” Click here to watch Rep. Hudson’s opening statement during the Subcommittee hearing. The transcript and more information on that hearing can be found here.

Rep. Hudson chaired September’s Subcommittee hearing on PFAS water contamination.

On August 14, 2018, Rep. Hudson arranged for the EPA to hold a PFAS community engagement event in Fayetteville. Rep. Hudson invited the EPA to hold the community engagement event so the EPA can hear directly from constituents to take action on PFAS.

Once the event was confirmed, he invited Michael S. Regan, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, to attend the PFAS community engagement event in Fayetteville to further coordinate efforts between federal, state, and local leaders. To read that letter, click here.

On June 21, 2018, Rep. Hudson sent a letter to Administrator Pruitt encouraging the EPA to consider visiting North Carolina as part of their continued work on PFAS. Rep. Hudson invited the EPA to visit the eighth district, specifically Fayetteville. To read that letter, click here.

In April 2018, he questioned Administrator Pruitt on GenX and continued his efforts to monitor reports of GenX in areas along the Cape Fear River, to encourage the swift collection and evaluation of data, and to help ensure appropriate measures are taken. To watch Rep. Hudson’s questioning of Administrator Pruitt, click here.

On March 6, 2018, Rep. Hudson sent a letter to Administrator Pruitt to encourage a thorough examination of GenX that would help develop a comprehensive plan for containment and removal of GenX. To read the letter, click here. The agency responded on April 24, 2018, saying, “A key priority for the EPA is to further the understanding of human health impacts of PFAS to support states and local communities. The EPA is currently developing human health toxicity information for GenX that will provide a scientific basis for states and communities to set or refine public health goals.” To read that letter, click here.

This letter followed Rep. Hudson’s questioning of Administrator Pruitt at a Subcommittee on Environment hearing on December 7, 2017. To watch those questions, click here.