Baldwin, group of U.S. Senators push Department of Defense to increase PFAS testing at military installations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a group of 39 U.S. Senators asking the Department of Defense to do more about PFAS at military installations.

In a release Wednesday, Baldwin’s office said the group of senators asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to increase funding for PFAS testing and remediation.

“As you know, PFAS chemicals have emerged as widespread contaminants to the drinking water sources of military bases across the country largely due to their presence in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used by the military,” the senators wrote. “Members of the military, veterans, and civilians who have served at military installations and/or live in the surrounding communities found to have been contaminated with PFAS face health risks related to exposure to PFAS chemicals, as these materials are found in AFFF, in personal protective equipment used by firefighters and in standard consumer products.”

The letter was signed by two Republicans and two Independents. The rest were Democrats. Read the full letter here.

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