The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PROTECTING FIREFIGHTERS FROM ADVERSE SUBSTANCES ACT” mentioning Martin Heinrich was published in the Senate section on pages S5189-S5190 on July 29.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
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The publication is reproduced in full below:
PROTECTING FIREFIGHTERS FROM ADVERSE SUBSTANCES ACT
Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 55, S. 231.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 231) to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on best practices to protect them from exposure to PFAS and to limit and prevent the release of PFAS into the environment, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the following
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances Act'' or the ``PFAS Act''.
SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO AND RELEASE OF
PFAS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the heads of any other relevant agencies, shall--
(1) develop and publish guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on training, education programs, and best practices to--
(A) reduce and eliminate exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as ``PFAS'') from firefighting foam and personal protective equipment; and
(B) prevent the release of PFAS from firefighting foam into the environment;
(2) develop and issue guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on foams and non-foam alternatives, personal protective equipment, and other firefighting tools and equipment that do not contain PFAS; and
(3) create an online public repository, which shall be updated on a regular basis, on tools and best practices for firefighters and other emergency response personnel to reduce, limit, and prevent the release of and exposure to PFAS.
(b) Required Consultation.--In developing the guidance required under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall consult with appropriate interested entities, including--
(1) firefighters and other emergency response personnel, including national fire service and emergency response organizations;
(2) impacted communities dealing with PFAS contamination;
(3) scientists, including public and occupational health and safety experts, who are studying PFAS and PFAS alternatives in firefighting foam;
(4) voluntary standards organizations engaged in developing standards for firefighter and firefighting equipment;
(5) State fire training academies;
(6) State fire marshals;
(7) manufacturers of firefighting tools and equipment; and
(8) any other relevant entities, as determined by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.
(c) Review of Guidance.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which the guidance required under subsection (a) is issued, and not less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall review the guidance and, as appropriate, issue updates to the guidance.
(d) Applicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to this Act.
Mr. HEINRICH. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn; that the Peters substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was withdrawn.
The amendment (No. 2125), in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances Act'' or the ``PFAS Act''.
SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO AND RELEASE OF
PFAS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the heads of any other relevant agencies, shall--
(1) develop and publish guidance for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on training, education programs, and best practices;
(2) make available a curriculum designed to--
(A) reduce and eliminate exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as ``PFAS'') from firefighting foam and personal protective equipment;
(B) prevent the release of PFAS from firefighting foam into the environment; and
(C) educate firefighters and other emergency response personnel on foams and non-foam alternatives, personal protective equipment, and other firefighting tools and equipment that do not contain PFAS; and
(3) create an online public repository, which shall be updated on a regular basis, on tools and best practices for firefighters and other emergency response personnel to reduce, limit, and prevent the release of and exposure to PFAS.
(b) Curriculum.--
(1) In general.--For the purpose of developing the curriculum required under subsection (a)(2), the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall make recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security as to the content of the curriculum.
(2) Consultation.--For the purpose of making recommendations under paragraph (1), the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall consult with interested entities, as appropriate, including--
(A) firefighters and other emergency response personnel, including national fire service and emergency response organizations;
(B) impacted communities dealing with PFAS contamination;
(C) scientists, including public and occupational health and safety experts, who are studying PFAS and PFAS alternatives in firefighting foam;
(D) voluntary standards organizations engaged in developing standards for firefighter and firefighting equipment;
(E) State fire training academies;
(F) State fire marshals;
(G) manufacturers of firefighting tools and equipment; and
(H) any other relevant entities, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.
(c) Review.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which the guidance and curriculum required under subsection (a) is issued, and not less frequently than once every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall review the guidance and curriculum and, as appropriate, issue updates to the guidance and curriculum.
(d) Applicability of FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to this Act.
(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to promulgate or enforce regulations under subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Administrative Procedure Act'').
The bill (S. 231), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
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