Thank you for contacting me

Thank you for contacting me about dangerous chemicals in our environment.

There are few things more important to our health than the water that we drink, the food that we eat, and the products that we use. That is why I am very concerned about cases of chemical contamination both in Massachusetts and elsewhere around the country. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and other relevant state agencies should take aggressive action to address findings of lead and other hazardous chemicals in our environment.

One area of my concern is the environmental and public health impacts of groundwater contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In response, I have supported a number of efforts aimed at urging federal agencies to swiftly and effectively conduct cleanup and remediation efforts. I sent a letter with several of my colleagues to the EPA, Office of Management and Budget, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Defense expressing my outrage over recent reports that officials delayed the release of a study on the impact of PFAS on health. This letter also demands the immediate release of the report. It is my hope that the results of the study will provide Westfield families with the answers they deserve and enable the federal government to act to quickly and effectively. Finally, I co-sponsored S. 638, the PFAS Action Act of 2019, to designate PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances under our environmental safeguard laws.

I believe that we must also respond to crises around the country, such as in Flint, Michigan, where high levels of lead in the water supply put the health of thousands of children at risk. The families in Flint could not drink their tap water, cook, or even shower. I supported President Obama's emergency declaration to provide funds to the EPA, FEMA, and HHS to help families and children in Flint affected by the crisis, and I voted in favor of legislation that provided funding to Flint and other communities affected by lead contamination. I also strongly oppose the Trump Administration's proposals to weaken protections under the Clean Water Act, and I will continue to monitor water safety issues closely.

I strongly support action by the EPA to enforce the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which President Obama signed into law in 2016, to ensure the safety of the products we currently use as well as the thousands that enter into the marketplace every single year, in order to prevent any dangerous chemicals from causing serious illnesses or environmental harm. President Trump has proposed slashing funding from the agencies that monitor and regulate environmental toxins, but I will fight those efforts on behalf of our most vulnerable communities and citizens, particularly children, who are at the highest risk for permanent damage from chemical poisoning.

I appreciate your reaching out to me about this important issue, and please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about issues of importance to you.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Warren
United States Senator

Washington, DC 309 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202-224-4543

Boston, MA 2400 JFK Federal Building 15 New Sudbury Street Boston, MA 02203 Phone: 617-565-3170

Springfield, MA 1550 Main Street Suite 406 Springfield, MA 01103 Phone: 413-788-2690