To amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to codify a Federal cause of action and a type of remedy available for individuals significantly exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, to encourage research and accountability for irresponsible discharge of those substances, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · February 2, 2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials.
The PFAS Accountability Act of 2024 creates a federal legal right for individuals who have been significantly exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are widely used industrial chemicals found in the drinking water of at least 200 million Americans and detected in the blood of most U.S. residents. The bill allows people to sue manufacturers and companies involved in creating or using PFAS in federal court and seek medical monitoring costs as a remedy, shifting the burden of ongoing health checkups from exposed individuals to the companies responsible for the exposure. Courts can award medical monitoring if someone has been significantly exposed to PFAS and faces an increased disease risk, with the standard of proof potentially lowered if there is insufficient scientific data available. The legislation also encourages courts to order companies to fund independent research studies on the health effects of PFAS to fill gaps in toxicological knowledge. The bill does not prevent people from pursuing additional claims under state laws and is intended to hold industry accountable while spurring safety research on these chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive harm, and immune system damage.
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