SEC. 2. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECH-
NOLOGY 
STUDY 
ON 
PER- 
AND 
POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES IN PER-
SONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WORN BY 
FIREFIGHTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall, in con-
sultation with the Director of the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, complete a study of the 
contents and composition of new and unused personal pro-
tective equipment worn by firefighters. 
(b) CONTENTS OF STUDY.—In carrying out the study 
required by subsection (a), the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology shall examine— 
(1) the identity, prevalence, and concentration 
of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly 
known as ‘‘PFAS’’) in the personal protective equip-
ment worn by firefighters; 
(2) the conditions and extent to which per- and 
polyfluoroalkyl substances are released into the envi-
ronment over time from the degradation of personal 
protective equipment from normal use by fire-
fighters; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:34 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7560.IH
H7560
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(3) the relative risk of exposure to per- and 
polyfluoroalkyl substances faced by firefighters 
from— 
(A) their use of personal protective equip-
ment; and 
(B) degradation of personal protective 
equipment from normal use by firefighters. 
(c) REPORTS.— 
(1) PROGRESS REPORTS.—Not less frequently 
than once each year for the duration of the study 
conducted under subsection (a), the Director shall 
submit to Congress a report on the progress of the 
Director in conducting such study. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date on which the Director completes the 
study required by subsection (a), the Director shall 
submit to Congress a report describing— 
(A) the findings of the Director with re-
spect to the study; and 
(B) recommendations on what additional 
research or technical improvements to personal 
protective equipment materials or components 
should be pursued to avoid unnecessary occupa-
tional exposure among firefighters to per- and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:34 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7560.IH
H7560
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
polyfluoroalkyl substances through personal 
protective equipment. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director $2,500,000 for fiscal 
year 2021 and $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2022. 
(2) 
SUPPLEMENT
NOT
SUPPLANT.—Funds 
made available to carry out this section shall supple-
ment and not supplant funds made available to the 
Director for other purposes. 
SEC. 3. RESEARCH ON PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUB-
STANCES IN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIP-
MENT WORN BY FIREFIGHTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the submittal of the report required by section 
2(c)(2), the Director of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology shall— 
(1) issue a solicitation for research proposals to 
carry out the research recommendations identified in 
the report submitted under section 2(c); and 
(2) award grants to applicants that submit re-
search proposals to develop safe alternatives to per- 
and polyfluoroalkyl substances in personal protective 
equipment. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:34 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7560.IH
H7560
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(b) CRITERIA.—The Director shall select research 
proposals to receive a grant under subsection (a) on the 
basis of merit, using criteria identified by the Director, 
including the likelihood that the research results will ad-
dress the findings of the Director with respect to the study 
conducted under section 2(a). 
(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—Any entity or group of 2 
or more entities may submit to the Director a research 
proposal in response to the solicitation for research pro-
posals under subsection (a), including— 
(1) State and local agencies; 
(2) public institutions, including public institu-
tions of higher education; 
(3) private corporations; and 
(4) nonprofit organizations. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director $5,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2023, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, and 
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 to carry out this 
section. 
(2) 
SUPPLEMENT
NOT
SUPPLANT.—Funds 
made available to carry out this section shall supple-
ment and not supplant funds made available to the 
Director for other purposes. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:34 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7560.IH
H7560
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. AUTHORITY FOR DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL IN-
STITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY 
TO CONSULT WITH EXPERTS ON MATTERS 
RELATING TO PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL 
SUBSTANCES. 
In carrying out this Act, the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology may consult with 
Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, State 
and local governments, and science and research institu-
tions determined by the Director to have scientific or ma-
terial interest in reducing unnecessary occupational expo-
sure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances by firefighters. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:34 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H7560.IH
H7560
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS