PFAS Intergovernmental Coordination Act
Bill: S.4829 | Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. (D-MI)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
PFAS Intergovernmental Coordination Act
This bill directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish a working group to address contamination by perfluoroalkyl and 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 working group shall facilitate more effective cooperation, coordination, and mutual accountability among the federal government and state, local, and tribal governments on a holistic response to PFAS contamination in communities across the United States.
The working group shall terminate two years after its establishment.
The OMB must report to Congress, describing any guidelines created in performing its duties and making a recommendation with respect to extending the working group's authorization.

To create intergovernmental coordination on addressing perfluoroalkyl 
  and polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``PFAS Intergovernmental Coordination 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the 
                House of Representatives.
            (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Office of Management and Budget.
            (3) PFAS.--The term ``PFAS'' means a perfluoroalkyl or 
        polyfluoroalkyl substance that is man-made and has not fewer 
        than 1 fully fluorinated carbon atom.
            (4) Working group.--The term ``working group'' means the 
        working group established under section 3(a).

SEC. 3. CREATION OF WORKING GROUP.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a working group to 
facilitate more effective cooperation, coordination, and mutual 
accountability among every level of the Federal Government and State, 
local, and Tribal governments on a holistic response to PFAS 
contamination in communities across the United States.
    (b) Termination.--
            (1) Termination date.--The working group shall terminate on 
        the date that is 2 years after the date on which the working 
        group is established.
            (2) Extension.--Based on the recommendation of the working 
        group described in section 6(a)(2), the Director may extend the 
        working group beyond the termination date.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS.

    (a) Appointment.--The Director shall appoint to the working group 
representatives with expertise in PFAS from Federal agencies, State, 
local, and Tribal governments and academic research institutions, 
including--
            (1) not less than 1 representative from--
                    (A) the Environmental Protection Agency;
                    (B) the Department of Defense;
                    (C) the Council on Environmental Quality;
                    (D) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
                    (E) the Department of Agriculture;
                    (F) the National Science Foundation;
                    (G) an institution of higher education engaged in 
                PFAS contamination research; and
                    (H) any other relevant entity, as determined by the 
                Director;
            (2) not less than 5 representatives from the Department of 
        Health and Human Services, including not less than 1 
        representative from--
                    (A) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
                    (B) the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
                Registry;
                    (C) the National Institute for Occupation Safety 
                and Health;
                    (D) the National Institutes of Health; and
                    (E) the Food and Drug Administration; and
            (3) not less than 15 representatives from a diverse cross-
        section of State, local, and Tribal governments, including not 
        less than 5 representatives from--
                    (A) State governments;
                    (B) local governments; and
                    (C) Tribal governments.
    (b) Consultation.--The Director may consult relevant entities in 
selecting appointees to the working group.
    (c) Chair.--The Director may chair the working group or designate a 
chair.
    (d) Meetings.--The working group shall convene on a quarterly 
basis.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE WORKING GROUP.

    The duties of the working group shall include--
            (1) considering the common challenges in addressing PFAS 
        contamination across every level of the Federal Government and 
        State, local, and Tribal governments;
            (2) facilitating more effective cooperation, coordination, 
        and mutual accountability among every level of the Federal 
        Government and State, local, and Tribal governments on a 
        holistic response to PFAS contamination;
            (3) incorporating the diverse perspectives of the working 
        group to devise ways to--
                    (A) improve the administration and coordination of 
                responses to PFAS contamination; and
                    (B) mitigate future PFAS contamination;
            (4) providing steps for more productive intergovernmental 
        collaboration in the future, including enhanced communication 
        protocols and recommendations and solutions that would fully 
        address PFAS contamination across the Federal Government and 
        State, local, and Tribal governments; and
            (5) any other relevant duties as determined by the working 
        group.

SEC. 6. REPORT.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report that--
            (1) describes any guidelines created in performing the 
        duties under section 5; and
            (2) makes a recommendation with respect to extending the 
        authorization of the working group.
    (b) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
Director submits the report required under subsection (a), the Director 
shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the 
implementation of any guidelines described in subsection (a)(1).
    (c) Publishing.--After Congress has been given the opportunity to 
review the report described in subsection (a) and has been briefed by 
the Director, and not later than 120 days after the date on which the 
Director submits such report, the Director shall make the report 
publicly available.
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