Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2525
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2019-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health technology, devices, supplies
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-19
text: 

Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to study and report on the contents and composition of certain firefighting equipment.
 
Such study shall examine perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, in new and unused personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by firefighters. PFAS are man-made substances that may have adverse human health effects, and which are contained in a variety of PPE. Specifically NIST must study (1) the identity, prevalence, and concentration of PFAS in such PPE; (2) the conditions and extent to which PFAS are released into the environment from the degradation of such PPE from normal use by firefighters; and (3) the relative risk of exposure to PFAS faced by firefighters.
 
NIST shall issue a solicitation for research proposals to carry out recommendations from its report and award grants to applicants that submit proposals to develop safe alternatives to PFAS in firefighters' PPE.

action_date: 2020-07-22
text: 

Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to study and report on the contents and composition of certain firefighting equipment.
 
Such study shall examine perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, in new and unused personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by firefighters. PFAS are man-made substances that may have adverse human health effects, and which are contained in a variety of PPE. Specifically NIST must study (1) the identity, prevalence, and concentration of PFAS in such PPE; (2) the conditions and extent to which PFAS are released into the environment from the degradation of such PPE from normal use by firefighters; and (3) the relative risk of exposure to PFAS faced by firefighters.
 
NIST shall issue a solicitation for research proposals to carry out recommendations from its report and award grants to applicants that submit proposals to develop safe alternatives to PFAS in firefighters' PPE.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: By Senator Wicker from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 116-252.
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: By Senator Wicker from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 116-252.
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 493.
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-11-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate