Reps. Perez and Maloy Introduce the Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and is being reviewed by two House committees. It was recently sent to a subcommittee for further study. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time, but the bill is considered active.
The bill has support from both parties, but some lawmakers may worry that exempting utilities makes it harder to fund environmental cleanups.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
The bill explicitly includes Indian Tribes in the list of parties that cannot recover cleanup costs from protected water utilities. Tribal water systems would benefit from the liability shield, but Tribes seeking to hold utilities responsible for PFAS contamination on tribal lands would lose that legal option. This creates a tradeoff for tribal communities depending on whether they operate water systems or are seeking cleanup from neighboring utilities.
“no person (including the United States, any State, or an Indian Tribe) may recover costs or damages from a protected entity”
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
During a House subcommittee hearing, water utility representatives urged Congress to pass the Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act to shield 'passive receivers' from CERCLA cleanup costs. Environmental groups countered that stricter enforcement is needed to protect public health.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez introduced bipartisan legislation to protect water and wastewater systems from being held liable for PFAS contamination they did not create. The bill aims to prevent utilities from passing massive legal and cleanup costs onto local ratepayers.
Representatives from Washington and Utah reintroduced legislation to ensure that PFAS manufacturers, not local water utilities, are held financially responsible for 'forever chemical' cleanups. The bill protects systems that followed all applicable laws while handling contaminated water.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act
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