I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4954 
To direct the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, in consulta-
tion with other agencies, to develop guidance for firefighters and other 
emergency response personnel on best practices to protect such personnel 
from exposure to PFAS and to limit and prevent the release of PFAS 
into the environment, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 6, 2021 
Mrs. DINGELL (for herself and Mr. FITZPATRICK) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Department of Homeland 
Security, in consultation with other agencies, to develop 
guidance for firefighters and other emergency response 
personnel on best practices to protect such personnel 
from exposure to PFAS and to limit and prevent the 
release of PFAS into the environment, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:51 Aug 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4954.IH
H4954
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Firefighters 
from Adverse Substances Act’’ or the ‘‘PFAS Act’’. 
SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON PREVENTING EXPOSURE TO AND RE-
LEASE OF PFAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
United States Fire Administration, the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
and the heads of any other relevant agencies, shall— 
(1) make available a curriculum designed to— 
(A) reduce and eliminate exposure to per- 
and polyfluoroalkyl substances (hereinafter re-
ferred to as ‘‘PFAS’’) from firefighting foam 
and personal protective equipment; 
(B) prevent the release of PFAS from fire-
fighting foam into the environment; and 
(C) educate firefighters and other emer-
gency response personnel on foams and non- 
foam alternatives, personal protective equip-
ment, and other firefighting tools and equip-
ment that do not contain PFAS; 
(2) develop and publish guidance for firefighters 
and other emergency response personnel on training, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:51 Aug 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4954.IH
H4954
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
education programs, and best practices on the infor-
mation described in paragraph (1); and 
(3) create an online public repository, and up-
date such repository on a regular basis, containing 
tools and best practices for firefighters and other 
emergency response personnel to reduce, limit, and 
prevent the release of and exposure to PFAS. 
(b) CURRICULUM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In developing the curriculum 
required under subsection (a)(1), the Administrator 
of the United States Fire Administration shall make 
recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity on the content of the curriculum. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—For the purpose of mak-
ing recommendations under paragraph (1), the Ad-
ministrator of the United States Fire Administration 
shall consult with interested entities, as appropriate, 
including— 
(A) firefighters and other emergency re-
sponse personnel, including national fire service 
and emergency response organizations; 
(B) impacted communities dealing with 
PFAS contamination; 
(C) scientists, including public and occupa-
tional health and safety experts, who are study-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:51 Aug 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4954.IH
H4954
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
ing PFAS and PFAS alternatives in fire-
fighting foam; 
(D) voluntary standards organizations en-
gaged in developing standards for firefighter 
and firefighting equipment; 
(E) State fire training academies; 
(F) State fire marshals; 
(G) manufacturers of firefighting tools and 
equipment; and 
(H) any other relevant entities, as deter-
mined by the Secretary of Homeland Security 
and the Administrator of the United States 
Fire Administration. 
(c) REVIEW.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
on which the guidance and curriculum required under sub-
section (a) is issued, and not less frequently than once 
every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, in consultation with the Administrator of the United 
States Fire Administration, the Administrator of the En-
vironmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
shall review the guidance and curriculum and, as appro-
priate, issue updates to the guidance and curriculum. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:51 Aug 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4954.IH
H4954
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(d) APPLICABILITY OF FACA.—The Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to 
this Act. 
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 
shall be construed to require the Secretary of Homeland 
Security to promulgate or enforce regulations under sub-
chapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code 
(commonly known as the ‘‘Administrative Procedure 
Act’’). 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:51 Aug 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4954.IH
H4954
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS