[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 58 (Friday, April 5, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E305-E306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING TONY SPANIOLA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELISSA SLOTKIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 5, 2024

  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to an incredible 
advocate--Tony Spaniola--whose unwavering commitment and tireless work 
have made an indelible mark on his community, the state of Michigan, 
and beyond.
  In 2016, Tony's world shifted when he learned that his home, and many 
others near Lake Huron in Oscoda, Michigan, had been exposed to 
contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly 
known as PFAS, a class of chemicals used by industry and, in Oscoda's 
case, our military. At the time, the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 
Oscoda had been identified as the first site contaminated with PFAS in 
Michigan, and the first U.S. military PFAS site in the country.
  This revelation ignited a fire within Tony--one fueled by a 
determination to confront the threat of these ``forever chemicals.'' 
Studies have shown PFAS exposure may lead to an increased risk of 
cancer, decreased fertility in women, developmental delays in children, 
and other health risks. Tony became a driving force behind efforts to 
address PFAS contamination on local, state, and federal fronts.
  His leadership was instrumental in the founding of the Need Our Water 
(NOW) community action group in Oscoda. Tony's vision also extended 
beyond Michigan, as he co-founded the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, 
and also serves on the leadership team of the National PFAS 
Contamination Coalition. He played a pivotal role in the creation of 
the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team, where he currently serves on 
the Citizens Advisory Workgroup. Furthermore, his efforts contributed 
to the establishment of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force of 
which I am proud to be a member--a group dedicated to advancing 
legislative solutions and raising awareness about the urgent need to 
address PFAS contamination nationwide. Because of his relentless 
advocacy and uncanny ability to bring stakeholders together, Tony has 
earned the respect and the ear of senior Pentagon leadership, including 
Undersecretary of Defense Bill LaPlante, and has played a major role in 
pushing the Department of Defense to act more urgently on PFAS cleanup.
  Tony has been an advocate his entire life, which can in part be 
attributed to the influence of his father, Francis Spaniola, a retired 
Army officer who served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 
1975 to 1990, representing Corunna in Shiawassee County. During his 
father's tenure in the state legislature, when the toxic flame 
retardant polybrominated biphenyls, more commonly known as PBB, was 
mistakenly sent to Michigan farmers as livestock feed and entered the 
food supply, Tony worked alongside his father at the forefront of 
tackling the PBB health crisis. Together, they initiated legislation 
that led to the creation of the Michigan Cancer Registry, regulated 
PBB, and compensated farmers for poisoned livestock.
  I have had the privilege of bearing witness to Tony's unwavering 
passion since I took office in 2019 and remain grateful to have been

[[Page E306]]

able to work with him in our fight to clean up contaminated sites 
across Michigan and this country.
  In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to our state and 
his steadfast advocacy on behalf of impacted families and communities 
nationwide, it is my honor to recognize his service.

                          ____________________