[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 162 (Tuesday, October 11, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6471-S6472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  By Mr. KING (for Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. King)):
  S. 5070. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 
grants to States to address contamination by perfluoroalkyl and 
polyfluoroalkyl substances on farms, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  (At the request of Mr. Reed, the following statement was ordered to 
be printed in the Record.)


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page S6471, October 11, 2022, in the second column, the 
following appears: STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT 
RESOLUTIONS (At the request of Mr. Reed, the following statement 
was ordered to be printed in the Record.)
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: STATEMENTS ON 
INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS By Mr. KING (for Ms. 
Collins (for herself and Mr. King)): S. 5070. A bill to authorize 
the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants to States to 
address contamination by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl 
substances on farms, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (At the request of Mr. Reed, 
the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


 Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the 
Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act. I thank my colleague Senator King 
for joining me to introduce this important legislation for farmers 
across America.
  The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act would provide vital 
assistance to farmers affected by PFAS contamination. PFAS are a class 
of man-made chemicals--sometimes referred to as ``forever chemicals''--
that can bioaccumulate in bodies over time. They are traditionally 
found in nonstick pans, clothing, furniture, and firefighting foam and 
have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, decreased 
fertility, and hormone disruption. PFAS contamination is a growing 
problem, and additional resources are needed to support affected 
communities.
  In Maine, PFAS contamination affecting many different sectors, 
including agriculture, has been discovered over the past several years. 
The presence of PFAS in wastewater sludge once spread as fertilizer has 
prevented some Maine farms from selling their products, thus leading to 
significant financial hardship for these family farmers. One such 
farmer is Fred Stone, a dairy farmer in Arundel, ME. In 2016, Fred 
discovered that the milk produced on his farm contained some of the 
highest levels ever reported for a PFAS contaminant at that time. More 
recently, a dairy farm in Fairfield, ME, found PFAS levels in its milk 
that were 153 times higher than the State's standard.
  Dairy is not the only agricultural sector affected by these harmful 
forever chemicals. Adam Nordell and his wife Johanna Davis, from Unity, 
ME, learned last year that PFAS contaminated the soil and water in 
their organic vegetable farm, the result of sludge spread on their land 
in the 1990s. Tests earlier this year showed that Adam and Johanna had 
levels of PFAS in their blood that were even higher than chemical plant 
workers who manufactured PFAS for decades and handled them daily.
  Currently, USDA provides limited support to dairy farmers who have 
been directed to remove their milk from the commercial market. The 
Dairy Indemnity Payment Program--DIPP--is the only USDA program that 
attempts to address this problem; however, it falls far short from 
meeting the growing needs of all farmers in the State of Maine. Fred 
Stone, the farmer who first learned of contamination in 2016, has still 
not been compensated adequately for the contaminated cows he 
depopulated. What is more, this program helps only dairy farmers, 
excluding the farmers of other agricultural products who have had their 
livelihoods disrupted by PFAS contamination. While community 
organizations and the State of Maine have stepped in to provide some 
aid, USDA should do more to assist all farmers affected by these 
chemicals. That is what our legislation aims to do.
  Specifically, the funds authorized by the Relief for Farmers Hit with 
PFAS Act could be used for a variety of purposes at the State level, 
including more capacity for PFAS testing for soil or water sources; 
blood monitoring for individuals to make informed decisions about their 
health; equipment to ensure a farm remains profitable during or after 
known PFAS contamination; relocation of a commercial farm if the land 
is no longer viable; alternative cropping systems or remediation 
strategies; educational programs for farmers experiencing PFAS 
contamination; and research on soil and water remediation systems and 
the viability of those systems for farms.
  In addition to making new resources available, our bill would create 
a task force at USDA charged with identifying other USDA programs to 
which PFAS contamination should be added as an eligible activity. This 
would help bring even more resources to farmers through existing 
programs. Additionally, the task force would provide technical 
assistance to states to help them coordinate their responses 
effectively.
  USDA needs to step up and provide support to farmers who, at no fault 
of their own, are at risk of losing their livelihoods. This is not just 
a problem in Maine; PFAS contamination has been discovered on farms in 
New Mexico and Michigan, and this problem will only become more evident 
as testing becomes more readily available.

[[Page S6472]]

  Thus far, the Federal Government's response has failed to keep pace 
with this growing problem. I have repeatedly urged USDA Secretary 
Vilsack to come to the aid of these affected farmers, and the Relief 
for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act would finally activate the Department to 
help where it is needed most.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill. As the members of the 
Senate Agriculture Committee begin work on the 2023 farm bill, I hope 
that we can work together to pass the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS 
Act into law.

                          ____________________