[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 198 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S8124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4609. Mr. PETERS (for himself and Ms. Collins) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. 
Reed and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 126, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following:
       ``(5) Support research efforts relating to perfluoroalkyl 
     substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances.
       ``(6) Establish practices to ensure the timely and complete 
     dissemination of research findings and related data relating 
     to perfluoroalkyl substanes or polyfluoroalkyl substances to 
     the general public.

       At the end of subtitle D of title III, add the following:

     SEC. 356. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TRANSPARENCY REGARDING 
                   RESEARCH RELATING TO PERFLUOROALKYL OR 
                   POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES.

       (a) Publication of Information.--Beginning not later than 
     180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     Secretary of Defense shall publish on the publicly available 
     website established under section 331(b) of the National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 
     116-92; 10 U.S.C. 2701 note) timely and regularly updated 
     information on the research efforts of the Department of 
     Defense relating to perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
     substances, which shall include the following:
       (1) A description of any research collaborations and data 
     sharing by the Department with the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
     Registry, or any other agency (as defined in section 551 
     title 5, United States Code), States, academic institutions, 
     nongovernmental organizations, or any other entity.
       (2) Regularly updated information on research projects 
     supported or conducted by the Department of Defense 
     pertaining to the development, testing, and evaluation of a 
     fluorine-free firefighting foam or any other alternative to 
     aqueous film forming foam that contains perfluoroalkyl or 
     polyfluoroalkyl substances, excluding any proprietary 
     information that is business confidential.
       (3) Regularly updated information on research projects 
     supported or conducted by the Department pertaining to the 
     health effects of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
     substances, including information relating to the impact of 
     such substances on firefighters, veterans, and military 
     families and excluding any personally identifiable 
     information.
       (4) Regularly updated information on research projects 
     supported or conducted by the Department pertaining to 
     treatment options for drinking water, surface water, ground 
     water, and the safe disposal of perfluoroalkyl or 
     polyfluoroalkyl substances.
       (5) Budget information, including specific spending 
     information for the research projects relating to 
     perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances that are 
     supported or conducted by the Department.
       (6) Such other matters as may be relevant to ongoing 
     research projects supported or conducted by the Department to 
     address the use of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl 
     substances and the health effects of the use of such 
     substances.
       (b) Format.--The information published under subsection (a) 
     shall be made available in a downloadable, machine-readable, 
     open, and a user-friendly format.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``military installation'' includes active, 
     inactive, and former military installations.
       (2) The term ``perfluoroalkyl substance'' means a man-made 
     chemical of which all of the carbon atoms are fully 
     fluorinated carbon atoms.
       (3) The term ``polyfluoroalkyl substance'' means a man-made 
     chemical containing a mix of fully fluorinated carbon atoms, 
     partially fluorinated carbon atoms, and nonfluorinated carbon 
     atoms.
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