the Military PFAS Transparency Act of 2025

Bill Number: H.R. 4192
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Armed Forces and National Security
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-06-26: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Last Updated: 2026-06-16T14:55:20Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability regarding the Department of Defense's efforts to address contamination from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals often linked to firefighting foams and industrial uses) at military sites. It requires regular reporting on cleanup funding and progress, along with a strategy to speed up remediation and a public dashboard for information access.

Key Provisions

Annual Reporting Requirement: Amends title 10 of the United States Code by adding a new section (Sec. 2717) that mandates the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to the congressional Armed Services Committees starting one year after enactment. The report must detail:
Total funding budgeted, obligated, and expensed for interim remedial actions (temporary cleanup steps) related to PFAS, broken down by site at each military installation.
Status updates on announced or selected actions, including design, contracting, construction phases, operation, timelines, delays exceeding 12 months, and any barriers like regulatory or funding issues.
Remediation Acceleration Strategy: Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a PFAS cleanup acceleration plan to congressional defense committees within 180 days of enactment. This includes:
Criteria for prioritizing installations based on health risks, environmental impact, and community proximity.
Timelines for completing phases of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, the main federal law for cleaning up hazardous waste sites) process.
Plans for adding resources, technologies, or staff, including details on accredited laboratories for PFAS testing.
Performance benchmarks for military departments and agencies.
Public Dashboard: Directs the creation of an accessible online tool, updated twice a year, showing site-specific funding, remediation status, timelines, and community contact points.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces new mandatory reporting and transparency obligations into title 10 of the United States Code, which governs armed forces operations. It builds on existing CERCLA requirements by adding specific annual updates, funding tracking, and public access mechanisms that were not previously required for DoD PFAS interim actions.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: Increases administrative workload for the Department of Defense in tracking and reporting data, potentially requiring more staff or systems for compliance. It may also influence how the Environmental Protection Agency coordinates with DoD on cleanup standards.
On Citizens: Provides greater public access to information about PFAS contamination and cleanup near military bases, which could affect communities living close to installations by enabling better awareness of local risks and progress.
On International Relations: No direct effects outlined, though improved domestic transparency on environmental issues could indirectly support U.S. credibility in global environmental discussions.

Main Stakeholders Affected

The Department of Defense and its military departments, which must implement the new reporting and strategy requirements.
Congressional committees on armed services, which will receive the reports.
Communities near military installations impacted by PFAS, who gain access to the public dashboard.
Laboratories and contractors involved in PFAS testing and remediation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

The bill operates within Congress's authority to oversee military activities and environmental compliance under existing statutes like CERCLA, with no apparent conflicts to constitutional powers. It emphasizes accountability through public disclosure, which could strengthen oversight without altering core legal frameworks. Politically, it focuses on environmental health concerns at defense sites.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]

Cosponsors (10)

Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

Recent Actions

2025-06-26: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
2025-06-26: Introduced in House
2025-06-26: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

the Military PFAS Transparency Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-26 — PDF (6 pages)