A bipartisan group of lawmakers is renewing its push for federal grants to help farmers who’ve lost production due to “forever chemicals” contamination in their soil.
Led by Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree, both from Maine, the lawmakers reintroduced the “Relief for Farmers Affected by PFAS Act,” referring to the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that wind up in sludge that’s spread as fertilizer on farms. It’s a repeat of legislation the lawmakers introduced in the last session of Congress.
The bill would provide grants to states, to be distributed to farmers for direct assistance including remediating PFAS on farms or helping with relocation expenses, their offices said. Money could also be used to expand soil testing and expand PFAS education for farmers.
“The PFAS crisis isn’t some theoretical or distant problem,” Pingree said in a statement. “It’s here, it’s growing, and it’s putting real pressure on farmers in Maine and across the country.”
