WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. House of Representatives approved its version of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA. The bill includes a provision to require the Department of Defense to purchase cleaning products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice program as having safer ingredients for people and the environment.
The following is a statement from Jessica Hernandez, policy director for government affairs at the Environmental Working Group:
The Department of Defense maintains over 2.3 billion square feet of buildings worldwide. Maintenance of these buildings should not create more unnecessary exposure to the toxic ‘forever chemicals’ known as PFAS for service members and their families, workers and building occupants.
This provision simply directs the department to purchase Safer Choice cleaning products, which have already been verified by the federal government to be PFAS-free. The provision will also incentivize the production of more PFAS-free products and increase market opportunities for American businesses.
EWG applauds the leadership of the House Armed Services Committee and the dedication of Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) for making this provision a priority.
We are hopeful more progress will be made in the Senate version of the NDAA to speed up PFAS cleanups at some of the most contaminated defense sites in the country.
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
