Budget reconciliation bill contains $80M to help firefighters purchase PFAS-free gear

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

The $3.5 trillion in new spending, includes $80 million, to help fire departments nationwide get rid of toxic gear and firefighting foam made with PFAS, dubbed "forever" chemicals because they never break down. PFAS has been linked to a number of autoimmune diseases as well as cancers.

"Occupational cancer is the number one killer of firefighters. Our cancer rates are rising every year," said International Association of Firefighters General President Ed Kelly. "Every September, we undertake the solemn duty of memorializing our fallen firefighters. This year, over 67%, almost 70% of our members that we memorialized are due to deaths from occupational cancer."

"The data is clear, the tools in the fear we use to keep ourselves safe are poisoning us, all of us, it's heartbreaking, and it's unacceptable, and we have to stop it," he said. "Too many brothers and sisters are dying of cancer; we've buried too many firefighters, and for me, our health and safety is non-negotiable."

(snip)

Michigan Congressman Dan Kildee, whose district includes Flint, a city where the drinking water supply was heavily tainted by PFAS chemicals, helped secure the $80 million in funding. He also serves as chair of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force.

(snip)

https://www.wdel.com/news/budget-reconciliation-bill-contains-80m-to-help-firefighters-purchase-pfas-free-gear/article_028e1f90-1580-11ec-a220-c31450cde508.html

[hibbing]

1. Had a firefighter friend who died at 50

His obituary was written rather oddly and now I know why. It was something about he knew the risk with the occupation, and I'm not talking about the risk of fighting fires. He died from brain cancer.

Peace

[Uncle Joe]

2. I'm sorry for your loss hibbing

Peace

[a kennedy]

3. No, no, no, to that PFAS crap....

small town near us has lots of wells contaminated with that crap…….

48 Town of Campbell homeowners have filed a class action lawsuit against dozens chemical companies and distributors of fire fighting foam.

According to the suit, filed in La Crosse County, the manufacturers, including 3M, Dupont, and Tyco, knew the PFAS chemical compounds they used to make their firefighting foam would contaminate the ground water, and that PFAS can cause serious health conditions including cancer. “They have also known for decades that they cause significant adverse health effects and could foresee that they would cause a profound risk to public health in communities such as La Crosse. Yet they elected to manufacturer and sell products utilizing these chemicals without warning their customers, placing profits over public health and safety,” says Attorney James Koby.

PFAS was used to make the foam sprayed at the La Crosse Regional Airport for decades. According to the Wisconsin DNR, which tested private and public wells throughout the Town of Campbell, more than 500 are contaminated with PFAS. In some cases, the PFAS levels are so high, the water in unsafe to drink, cook with, or use to brush your teeth.

In March, the City of La Crosse filed suit against the same companies. An attorney for the city says the companies knew their products posed risks to public health.

https://www.news8000.com/town-of-campbell-homeowners-file-class-action-lawsuit-against-chemical-companies-and-distributors-of-fire-fighting-foam/

Here is some further info…….

More than 1,000 La Crosse County families are drinking bottled water, provided by the DNN, because of wide-spread PFAS contamination around the La Crosse Regional Airport. State officials say they are working to address that contamination as well as nitrates and lead. “Our responsibility is to work with industry to make sure that people are accountable. And; our responsibility is to work with industry, cities, towns and villages, so they too can live their dreams out with clean water”, says DNR Secretary Preston Cole.

The Wisconsin Assembly has passed a bill that would create a new $10 million grant program to help communities clean up PFAS contamination, but would ban them from suing those responsible for the pollution.

https://www.news8000.com/dnr-launches-new-campaign-to-address-pfas-and-other-drinking-water-contaminants/

[Uncle Joe]

4. Thanks for the addition a kennedy.