(Hartford, CT) – Clean Water Action, Sierra Club, Save the Sound and Environment Connecticut, along with many other coalition partners, including the CT Union of Professional Firefighters Association, numerous local groups and health advocates, celebrated the strong bipartisan support and passage of Senate Bill 292, An Act Concerning The Use Of PFAS Chemicals In Certain Products after a unanimous vote in the Senate on Thursday, May 2, and urge passage in the House.
“We’re grateful to Senator Lopes, Senator Harding and all the Senators that stood up for Connecticut residents to protect public health and the environment from the class of very harmful PFAS chemicals. Senate Bill 292 goes a long way to turn off the tap on PFAS and continues Connecticut’s leadership,” stated Anne Hulick, CT Director Clean Water Action.
“Sierra Club applauds the Senate for passing this important piece of legislation. PFAS chemicals are a danger to human health and ecosystems. The more we can reduce exposure, the better. We are looking forward to seeing SB 292 pass the House and be signed into law,” said Ann Gadwah, Advocacy and Outreach Organizer, Sierra Club CT.
“If this bill becomes law it will stop the flow of PFAS coming out of our sinks, toilets and washing machines which goes a long way towards protecting the people and businesses that depend on clean water and the wild creatures that call Long Island Sound and its watersheds their home,” said Bill Lucey, Long Island Soundkeeper, Save the Sound.
“The Connecticut Senate’s unanimous vote in favor of eliminating toxic PFAS chemicals from everyday consumer products such as cosmetics, textiles and clothing is an important bipartisan step towards protecting our communities from PFAS contamination,” said Environment Connecticut State Director Chris Phelps. “Democrats and Republicans in the state House of Representatives should join their Senate colleagues in voting to get dangerous PFAS chemicals out of our homes, businesses and drinking water. We urge the House to pass SB 292 before they adjourn on Wednesday.”
The coalition appreciates the leadership of Environment Committee House Chair Representative Gresko and Ranking Member Representative Callahan and urges the bill to be called and passed in the House of Representatives.
Clean Water Action is a national 501(c)(4) environmental organization with nearly one million members nationwide. Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. Learn more at cleanwater.org.