WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led a letter with 35 Senators to President Biden urging the Biden administration to include funding in the upcoming budget request to more comprehensively address PFAS contamination. Specifically, the letter asks for funding dedicated to close gaps in data and research, support ongoing testing and cleanup efforts, and support regulations to better protect the public and environment from PFAS contamination.

In addition to Shaheen, U.S. Senators Baldwin (D-WI), Bennet (D-CO), Blumenthal (D-CT), Booker (D-NJ), Brown (D-OH), Cardin (D-MD), Carper (D-DE), Casey (D-PA), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Durbin (D-IL), Gillibrand (D-NY), Heinrich (D-NM), Hassan (D-NH), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Hirono (D-HI), Kelly (D-AZ), King (I-ME), Klobuchar (D-MN), Luján (D-NM), Manchin (D-WV), Markey (D-MA), Murphy (D-CT), Padilla (D-CA), Peters (D-MI), Reed (D-RI), Rosen (D-NV), Sanders (I-VT), Schatz (D-CA), Sinema (I-AZ), Stabenow (D-MI), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warren (D-MA), Welch (D-VT), Whitehouse (D-RI) and Wyden (D-OR) also signed onto the letter.

“The prevalence of PFAS combined with the adverse health impacts associated with exposure–including developmental effects, changes in liver, immune and thyroid function and increased risk of some cancers–requires a comprehensive approach. Specifically, we ask that your budget request include dedicated funding to close gaps in data and research to better inform responses and drive innovation. Second, we urge prioritization of regulatory work necessary to enhance protections for public health and the environment. Finally, we encourage robust funding to support ongoing testing and cleanup of existing contamination nationwide,” the Senators wrote.