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Hudson's GenX Legislation Passes House

January 10, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2020
 
Hudson's GenX Legislation Passes House
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), a leader on efforts to tackle GenX and address contamination in the Cape Fear River, released the following statement after the House passed his legislation as part of the PFAS Action Act of 2019 (H.R. 535):
 
"I'm committed to keeping our water safe, and my legislation ensures GenX and the Cape Fear River cleanup remain a top priority," said Rep. Hudson. "I'll continue to fight to get our communities resources needed to clean up and protect our citizens while pushing federal and state officials to come up with a comprehensive plan to ensure chemicals like GenX never contaminate our drinking water again."
 
Last night, Rep. Hudson spoke on the House floor urging his colleagues to support his two amendments. Rep. Hudson's amendments were adopted by voice and added to the bill, which the House passed today. To watch Rep. Hudson's remarks and read the transcript, click here.
 

 
Rep. John Shimkus (IL-15), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, applauded Rep. Hudson's leadership saying, "My colleague, Mr. Hudson, has led the Committee's efforts to address GenX. On behalf of his constituents in North Carolina, he's pressed EPA to complete its human health toxicity assessment on GenX using science. This amendment takes the next step to focus EPA on ways to keep people's drinking water safe under GenX. This is a prudent step to harness the technical expertise of EPA to identify ways to reduce contamination of this substance which will be useful in connection with EPA's other work and will aim to stop future problems like those in the Cape Fear River. And I applaud my colleague and friend for his work."
 

 
Background
Earlier this week, Rep. Hudson, who is a cosponsor of H.R. 535, offered two amendments to H.R. 535:
  • Hudson_019 Amendment Summary - this amendment clarifies that communities impacted by contamination of the chemical GenX are eligible for grants under this section.
  • Hudson_020 Amendment Summary - this amendment directs the EPA to investigate methods to prevent contamination by GenX of surface waters, including source waters used for drinking water purposes.
 
In September 2019, 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.
 
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.
 
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Issues:Environment