This bill tackles a growing water pollution problem by creating the first federal standards to limit PFAS chemicals in our water. PFAS are human-made chemicals used in thousands of products—from non-stick cookware to water-resistant clothing to firefighting foam—and they've contaminated drinking water supplies across the country. The problem is that right now, there are no federal limits on how much PFAS can be discharged into rivers, lakes, and treatment plants.

The bill requires the EPA to set water quality standards for all measurable PFAS chemicals within three years. It also requires the EPA to establish discharge limits for specific industries that are major PFAS polluters, including chemical manufacturers, electronics makers, textile mills, landfills, leather tanneries, and paint companies. These industries will have to meet stricter pollution standards on a rolling schedule between 2026 and 2028. The bill also funds water treatment plants to help them monitor and remove PFAS from their systems, and it requires companies to start monitoring their PFAS discharges immediately so we can understand the scope of the problem. Essentially, this bill moves PFAS from an unregulated chemical to one with federal limits, similar to how the government regulates other water pollutants.