NAWC Responds to the Prevent Future American Sickness Act of 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 31, 2020) – National Association of Water Companies President and CEO Robert F. Powelson issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the Prevent Future American Sickness (PFAS) Act of 2020 by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.):
“Senators Sanders, Merkley and Markey are doing important work to hold polluters accountable and prevent future PFAS contamination of our nation’s drinking water. But I am concerned that the bill exposes the drinking water service providers who are on the front lines of protecting consumers from pollution of all kinds to liability. It should be the polluters who created this mess — not the entities working to clean it up — that are held accountable by this legislation.
“Additionally, the millions of Americans who rely on America’s water companies for their wastewater services are excluded from the bill’s benefits. We look forward to working with these Senators to ensure that their legislation has the broadest possible impact, so that all Americans have access to safe drinking water and assistance is provided on the basis of need rather than system ownership.”