United States 116th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 2 D · 1 R cosponsors

S 2525 — Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act of 2019

Last action — By Senator Wicker from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 116-252.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act of 2019 This bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to study and report on the contents and composition of certain firefighting equipment. Such study shall examine perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, in new and unused personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by firefighters. PFAS are man-made substances that may have adverse human health effects, and which are contained in a variety of PPE. Specifically NIST must study (1) the identity, prevalence, and concentration of PFAS in such PPE; (2) the conditions and extent to which PFAS are released into the environment from the degradation of such PPE from normal use by firefighters; and (3) the relative risk of exposure to PFAS faced by firefighters. NIST shall issue a solicitation for research proposals to carry out recommendations from its report and award grants to applicants that submit proposals to develop safe alternatives to PFAS in firefighters' PPE.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

121 added · 25 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment removes specific timelines for when the National Institute of Standards and Technology must begin and complete a study on personal protective equipment used by firefighters. It replaces the requirement to submit a report within one year of enactment with a more general statement about the study. This change allows for flexibility in the timing and reporting of the study's findings and recommendations regarding the equipment's contents.

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2525 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
2525 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
493 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to conduct a study of personal protective equipment worn by firefighters to determine the prevalence and concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and for other purposes.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation July 22, 2020 Reported by Mr.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
Wicker, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to conduct a study of personal protective equipment worn by firefighters to determine the prevalence and concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <DELETED>SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE.</DELETED> <DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act of 2019''.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
2.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY STUDY ON PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES IN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WORN BY FIREFIGHTERS.</DELETED> <DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, commence a study of the contents and composition of new and unused personal protective equipment worn by firefighters.</DELETED> <DELETED> (b) Contents of Study.--In carrying out the study required by subsection (a), the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall examine--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) the identity, prevalence, and concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly known as ``PFAS'') in the personal protective equipment worn by firefighters;</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) the conditions and extent to which per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are released into the environment over time from the degradation of personal protective equipment from normal use by firefighters;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) the relative risk of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances faced by firefighters from-- </DELETED> <DELETED> (A) their use of personal protective equipment;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) degradation of personal protective equipment from normal use by firefighters.</DELETED> <DELETED> (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to Congress a report describing--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) the findings of the Director with respect to the study carried out under subsection (a);
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) recommendations on what additional research or technical improvements to personal protective equipment materials or components should be pursued to avoid unnecessary occupational exposure among firefighters to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances through personal protective equipment.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
3.
RESEARCH ON PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES IN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT WORN BY FIREFIGHTERS.</DELETED> <DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) issue a solicitation for research proposals to carry out the research recommendations identified in the report submitted under section 2(c);
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) award grants to applicants that submit research proposals to develop safe alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in personal protective equipment.</DELETED> <DELETED> (b) Criteria.--The Director shall select research proposals to receive a grant under subsection (a) on the basis of merit, using criteria identified by the Director, including the likelihood that the research results will address the findings of the Director with respect to the study conducted under section 2(a).</DELETED> <DELETED> (c) Eligible Entities.--Any entity or group of 2 or more entities may submit to the Director a research proposal in response to the solicitation for research proposals under subsection (a), including--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) State and local agencies;</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) public institutions, including public institutions of higher education;</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) private corporations;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (4) nonprofit organizations.</DELETED> <DELETED> (d) Funding.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) Requests.--Beginning in the first full fiscal year following the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once each year thereafter for 2 years, the Director may request such funding as the Director considers necessary to carry out this section.</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Limitation.--In carrying out this section, the Director may not expend or obligate more than $5,000,000 in any fiscal year.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
4.
AUTHORITY FOR DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY TO CONSULT WITH EXPERTS ON MATTERS RELATING TO PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES.</DELETED> <DELETED> In carrying out this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology may consult with Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, State and local governments, and science and research institutions determined by the Director to have scientific or material interest in reducing unnecessary occupational exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances by firefighters.</DELETED> SECTION 1.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, commence a study of the contents and composition of new and unused personal protective equipment worn by firefighters.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall, in partnership with the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, complete a study of the contents and composition of new and unused personal protective equipment worn by firefighters.
(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to Congress a report describing-- (1) the findings of the Director with respect to the study carried out under subsection (a);
(c) Reports.-- (1) Progress reports.--Not less frequently than once each year for the duration of the study conducted under subsection (a), the Director shall submit to Congress a report on the progress of the Director in conducting such study.
and (2) recommendations on what additional research or technical improvements to personal protective equipment materials or components should be pursued to avoid unnecessary occupational exposure among firefighters to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances through personal protective equipment.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Director completes the study required by subsection (a), the Director shall submit to Congress a report describing-- (A) the findings of the Director with respect to the study;
and (B) recommendations on what additional research or technical improvements to personal protective equipment materials or components should be pursued to avoid unnecessary occupational exposure among firefighters to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances through personal protective equipment.
(a) In General.--Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall-- (1) issue a solicitation for research proposals to carry out the research recommendations identified in the report submitted under section 2(c);
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the submittal of the report required by section 2(c)(2), the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall-- (1) issue a solicitation for research proposals to carry out the research recommendations identified in the report submitted under section 2(c);
(d) Funding.-- (1) Requests.--Beginning in the first full fiscal year following the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once each year thereafter for 2 years, the Director may request such funding as the Director considers necessary to carry out this section.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.-- (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(2) Limitation.--In carrying out this section, the Director may not expend or obligate more than $5,000,000 in any 1 fiscal year.
(2) Supplement not supplant.--Funds made available to carry out this section shall supplement and not supplant funds made available to the Director for other purposes.
<all>
Calendar No.
493 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
2525 _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to conduct a study of personal protective equipment worn by firefighters to determine the prevalence and concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ July 22, 2020 Reported with an amendment
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Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

  3. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  4. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  5. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  6. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 493.

  7. By Senator Wicker from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 116-252.

  8. By Senator Wicker from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 116-252.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 544 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (544)

544 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 2525 do?
Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act of 2019 This bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to study and report on the contents and composition of certain firefighting equipment. Such study shall examine perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, in new and unused personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by firefighters. PFAS are man-made substances that may have adverse human health effects, and which are contained in a variety of PPE. Specifically NIST must study (1) the identity, prevalence, and concentration of PFAS in such PPE; (2) the conditions and extent to which PFAS are released into the environment from the degradation of such PPE from normal use by firefighters; and (3) the relative risk of exposure to PFAS faced by firefighters. NIST shall issue a solicitation for research proposals to carry out recommendations from its report and award grants to applicants that submit proposals to develop safe alternatives to PFAS in firefighters' PPE.
Who sponsors S 2525?
S 2525 is sponsored by Gardner, Cory (Republican), Hassan, Margaret Wood (Democratic), and Shaheen, Jeanne (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 2525?
This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 2525?
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