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PFAS Accountability Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-1334| Senate 
| Updated: 4/22/2021
Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democratic Senator

New York

Cosponsors (3)
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)

Environment and Public Works Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
PFAS Accountability Act of 2021 This bill provides a cause of action under the Toxic Substances Control Act for individuals or classes of individuals who were significantly exposed to perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS. These substances are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. Specifically, the bill provides a cause of action those who were significantly exposed to PFAS (or have reasonable grounds to believe they were exposed) against persons who engaged in any portion of a manufacturing process that created the PFAS and foresaw (or reasonably should have foreseen) the creation or use of PFAS would result in human exposure. The bill authorizes a court to award medical monitoring to claimants if (1) they have been significantly exposed to PFAS, (2) they have an increased risk of developing a disease associated with such exposure, (3) the increased risk provides a reasonable basis to conclude that periodic diagnostic medical examinations is necessary, and (4) the medical examinations are effective in detecting a disease associated with PFAS exposure. The bill establishes a presumption of significant exposure to PFAS if the claimant (1) provides medical results proving the presence of PFAS in the body, or (2) demonstrates the defendant's manufacturing process created the PFAS to which the claimant was exposed and the PFAS were released into one or more areas where the claimant would have been exposed for at least one year.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1372
PFAS Accountability Act of 2019
Apr 22, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Apr 22, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Oct 19, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-2751
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1372
    PFAS Accountability Act of 2019


  • April 22, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 22, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.


  • October 19, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-2751
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Environmental Protection

Related Bills

  • HR 117-2751: PFAS Accountability Act of 2021
Blood and blood diseasesCivil actions and liabilityEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental healthFederal district courtsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth promotion and preventive careManufacturingMedical researchMedical tests and diagnostic methodsPollution liability

PFAS Accountability Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-1334| Senate 
| Updated: 4/22/2021
PFAS Accountability Act of 2021 This bill provides a cause of action under the Toxic Substances Control Act for individuals or classes of individuals who were significantly exposed to perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS. These substances are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. Specifically, the bill provides a cause of action those who were significantly exposed to PFAS (or have reasonable grounds to believe they were exposed) against persons who engaged in any portion of a manufacturing process that created the PFAS and foresaw (or reasonably should have foreseen) the creation or use of PFAS would result in human exposure. The bill authorizes a court to award medical monitoring to claimants if (1) they have been significantly exposed to PFAS, (2) they have an increased risk of developing a disease associated with such exposure, (3) the increased risk provides a reasonable basis to conclude that periodic diagnostic medical examinations is necessary, and (4) the medical examinations are effective in detecting a disease associated with PFAS exposure. The bill establishes a presumption of significant exposure to PFAS if the claimant (1) provides medical results proving the presence of PFAS in the body, or (2) demonstrates the defendant's manufacturing process created the PFAS to which the claimant was exposed and the PFAS were released into one or more areas where the claimant would have been exposed for at least one year.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1372
PFAS Accountability Act of 2019
Apr 22, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Apr 22, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Oct 19, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-2751
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1372
    PFAS Accountability Act of 2019


  • April 22, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 22, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.


  • October 19, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-2751
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democratic Senator

New York

Cosponsors (3)
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)

Environment and Public Works Committee

Environmental Protection

Related Bills

  • HR 117-2751: PFAS Accountability Act of 2021
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Blood and blood diseasesCivil actions and liabilityEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental healthFederal district courtsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth promotion and preventive careManufacturingMedical researchMedical tests and diagnostic methodsPollution liability