# PFAS Exposure Assessment and Documentation Act

This bill requires the military to identify, track, and report on contamination from PFAS chemicals at military bases and facilities. PFAS stands for "per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances"—a group of human-made chemicals used in many products like firefighting foam, non-stick cookware coatings, and water-resistant fabrics. These chemicals don't break down easily in the environment and have been found contaminating water supplies near military installations where they've been used for decades.

The bill essentially creates a documentation system so the military must assess where PFAS contamination exists on their properties, measure how serious it is, and keep records of their findings. This affects military personnel, their families, and civilians living near military bases who may be exposed to contaminated drinking water or groundwater. The military would need to test water sources and soil at bases and report what they find. This is important because PFAS chemicals have been linked to health concerns including liver damage, thyroid disease, and immune system problems, though research is still ongoing.

The practical impact is that communities near military bases would have better information about potential contamination in their water supplies. Currently, many people don't know if PFAS is present in their area. By requiring the military to document and report these findings, the bill aims to give residents and local officials the data they need to make informed decisions about water safety and potentially take protective measures. This could lead to cleanup efforts, water treatment improvements, or health monitoring programs in affected areas, though the bill itself focuses on assessment and documentation rather than mandating specific cleanup actions.

PFAS Exposure Assessment and Documentation Act

Shaheen, Jeanne

PFAS Exposure Assessment and Documentation Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to include in various health evaluations an assessment of whether a member of the Armed Forces has been exposed to perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS. Specifically, the bill requires DOD to ensure that any periodic health assessment, physical assessment for recently separated members, pre-deployment medical examination, post-deployment medical examination, and post-deployment health reassessment provided to a member of the Armed Forces includes an evaluation of whether the member has been exposed to PFAS or was based or stationed at a military installation with a known or suspected release of PFAS during the period the member was there. If any of the evaluations result in a positive determination of potential exposure to PFAS, DOD must provide blood testing during the evaluation to be included in the member's health record. DOD must pay for blood testing to determine and document potential exposure to PFAS for former members of the Armed Forces or family members of such members who lived at a location identified by DOD as having a known or suspected PFAS release during the time the individuals lived there. DOD must share results of the evaluations with the Department of Veterans Affairs and establish a registry of members of the Armed Forces who have been exposed to, or suspected to have been exposed to, PFAS. Members may elect to be excluded from the registry.