[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4769 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4769

   To drive innovation in developing next-generation protection for 
firefighters by accelerating the development of PFAS-free turnout gear, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 20, 2023

 Mrs. Dingell (for herself, Mr. Graves of Missouri, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. 
   Kean of New Jersey, Ms. Titus, Mr. D'Esposito, Mr. Ivey, and Mr. 
 Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on 
Science, Space, and Technology, and 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To drive innovation in developing next-generation protection for 
firefighters by accelerating the development of PFAS-free turnout gear, 
                        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 ``Protecting Firefighters and 
Advancing State-of-the-Art Alternatives Act'' or the ``PFAS 
Alternatives Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPANDING THE AVAILABILITY OF NEXT-GENERATION TURNOUT GEAR.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration of the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency.
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        nonprofit organization, institution of higher education, 
        national fire service organization, or national fire safety 
        organization, as determined by the Administrator, with 
        experience in not fewer than three of the following:
                    (A) Conducting research on issues related to cancer 
                among firefighters.
                    (B) Educating firefighters and other users of 
                turnout gear on proper use, cleaning, and 
                decontamination of turnout gear.
                    (C) Educating firefighters on matters related to 
                physical health, safety, and wellness.
                    (D) Experience collaborating with other national 
                nonprofit organizations to support research on 
                firefighter safety and health.
                    (E) Demonstrated ability to collaborate with 
                researchers on matters related to firefighter health 
                and safety.
                    (F) Representing membership comprised of 
                structural, wildfire, and aircraft firefighters and 
                supervisors.
            (3) Moisture barrier materials.--The term ``moisture 
        barrier material'' means the component of turnout gear that 
        principally prevents the transfer of hazardous liquids, 
        including hot liquids, fireground chemicals, and infectious 
        fluids, and contributes to the overall thermal insulation of 
        the firefighter without imposing undue burdens or otherwise 
        compromising the performance of turnout gear.
            (4) PFAS.--The term ``PFAS'' means per- and polyfluoroalkyl 
        substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated carbon 
        atom.
            (5) Turnout gear.--The term ``turnout gear'' means 
        protective clothing worn as a main source of protection for 
        firefighters and emergency medical services personnel during 
        firefighting and post-fire operations to minimize exposure to 
        hazards that cause serious injuries and illnesses that may 
        result from contact with thermal, physical, chemical, 
        biological, or other workplace hazards. Turnout gear--
                    (A) includes protective clothing designed to 
                protect firefighters performing structural 
                firefighting, proximity firefighting, wildland 
                firefighting, and urban interface firefighting; and
                    (B) may also include other personal protective 
                equipment referred to in section 33(c)(3)(I)(i) of the 
                Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
                U.S.C. 2229(c)(3)(I)(i)).
    (b) Research Programs.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, not later than 180 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with 
        the heads of other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall 
        establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to 
        support research, development, and testing of next-generation 
        turnout gear and associated materials.
            (2) Requirements.--
                    (A) PFAS-free components.--Grants awarded under 
                this subsection shall support the research, 
                development, and testing of materials to design and 
                produce PFAS-free turnout gear.
                    (B) Partnership.--The Administrator shall require 
                that applications for grants under this subsection 
                include a description of how the eligible entity will 
                partner with organizations in, and relevant to, the 
                firefighting industry, including organizations that 
                directly represent members who serve in nonmanagerial 
                firefighting roles, and how such partnership will help 
                move the results of research, development, and testing 
                described in subparagraph (A) into practice, including 
                guidance and training for first responders and others 
                who regularly use turnout gear.
            (3) Considerations.--In making awards under this 
        subsection, the Administrator may consider the extent to which 
        the activities proposed support the research, development, and 
        testing described in subparagraph (A) that is likely to reduce 
        the inherent dangers firefighters face, including innovations 
        that provide the following:
                    (A) Enhanced protection against primary and 
                secondary exposure to particulates and byproducts of 
                combustion.
                    (B) Reduced maintenance that includes contamination 
                resistance and greater ease of cleaning or visible 
                warning indicators to alert firefighters to hazardous 
                exposures or the need for decontamination.
                    (C) Consideration of body composition in 
                development of prototypes and other products.
            (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
        through fiscal year 2028 to carry out this subsection.
    (c) Training Programs.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, the Administrator shall award grants to, or 
        enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, eligible 
        entities, as determined by the Administrator, to develop and 
        disseminate guidance and training for firefighters and other 
        first responders on best practices for reducing potentially 
        harmful exposures by properly wearing, decontaminating, and 
        caring for turnout gear developed in accordance with section 
        (b).
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
        through fiscal year 2028 to carry out this subsection.
    (d) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a 
report describing the progress made in achieving the goals of 
subsections (b) and (c).
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