Gary Peters (D-MI)
A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to submit a strategy to accelerate the response efforts of the Department of Defense with respect to releases of perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances from the activities of the Department.
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill requires the Secretary of Defense to create a strategy to speed up response efforts regarding the release of perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances. The strategy must be submitted to congressional defense committees within 180 days of the Act's enactment. This strategy is required to include prioritization criteria, cleanup timelines, and plans for deploying more resources or technologies. Additionally, the Secretary must create a public online dashboard within one year to track the Department's actions. This dashboard will provide information on funding, cleanup status, and timelines for various sites.
Yes· 3 of 15
- Scored +8
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill mandates a strategy to accelerate the cleanup of hazardous PFAS/PFOS chemical releases.
- Scored +7
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires a public online dashboard to track cleanup status, funding, and timelines.
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill directly addresses the remediation of military and National Guard facilities, which are frequently located in rural areas.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Prioritization of High-Risk Areas: The bill requires the Secretary to use criteria to prioritize actions based on risks to human health and the environment, such as concentration levels and proximity to receptors (Section 1(a)(1)).
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Increased Accountability through Timelines: The strategy must include specific timelines for completing cleanup phases at military installations and National Guard facilities (Section 1(a)(2)).
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Resource Deployment to Reduce Delays: The bill calls for a plan to use additional technologies, personnel, or resources to help speed up the cleanup process (Section 1(a)(3)).
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Public Transparency: The creation of a public online dashboard will allow people to see how much money is being spent and the current status of cleanup efforts at various sites (Section 1(b)).
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Community Engagement: The required public dashboard must include points of contact to help people engage with the community regarding these efforts (Section 1(b)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill directly addresses the remediation of military and National Guard facilities, which are frequently located in rural areas. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Remediation efforts may benefit Native American lands if they are proximal to military or National Guard facilities. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Mitigating environmental risks from PFAS can improve health outcomes for minority communities often located near defense installations. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Cleaning up hazardous substances improves the safety of environments for Asian American communities near defense facilities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Reducing chemical contamination provides significant health benefits to Hispanic communities near military sites. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Environmental remediation of hazardous substances provides health protections that often benefit lower-income communities near military sites. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Reducing environmental toxins provides a safer living environment for vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Cleanup efforts help reduce health risks for residents in urban areas near military facilities. Would white Americans be better off under this? — The cleanup of chemical contaminants improves public health for white populations near military installations. Would women be better off under this? — Improved environmental safety provides health benefits for women living near contaminated sites.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill mandates a strategy to accelerate the cleanup of hazardous PFAS/PFOS chemical releases. Does this invest in rural communities? — Remediation of military and National Guard facilities can benefit local rural communities where these sites are often located.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires a public online dashboard to track cleanup status, funding, and timelines.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Cleaning up military installations can improve the long-term health environment for veterans stationed there.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill focuses on environmental remediation rather than direct poverty alleviation.
- 12/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.