The Democratic-led House of Representatives on Friday voted 247-159 in favor of a bill that aims to crack down on \u201cforever chemicals\u201d that have been linked to a range of health problems.<\/p>\n
The PFAS Action Act, which targets per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, could exact a toll on chemical giants like 3M
Even so, Democrats and Republicans might reach compromises on this environmental issue, said analysts at Height Capital Markets in a note on Thursday. \u201cAs the 2020 election campaign season heats up, we expect Senate Republicans will come under increased pressure to pass PFAS legislation, particularly given widespread contamination in swing states like Michigan, North Carolina and Florida,\u201d the analysts added.<\/p>\n The House bill would require that certain PFAS compounds are listed as hazardous substances within a year, and it would set a maximum contaminant level for those compounds. It was rolled out last year by three representatives from Michigan \u2014 Democrats Debbie Dingell and Dan Kildee and Republican Fred Upton.<\/p>\n If a \u201chazardous substances\u201d designation becomes a reality, companies like 3M, DuPont
Beacon\u2019s team also said the bill \u201cwill generate headlines, but little substantive action until at least late 2020. Expect more action this year, however, from state officials, who have begun to step up in the face of federal inaction.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s be very clear, PFAS is an urgent public health and environmental threat,\u201d Dingell said in a statement Friday<\/a> after her bill won the House\u2019s approval. \u201cWe all must work together to protect human health and our environment. Further inaction only means more people continue to be poisoned and contamination spreads further.\u201d <\/p>\n Earlier in the week, she said PFAS compounds<\/a> were \u201cforever chemicals\u201d that \u201cpersist everywhere and are linked to cancer, liver disease, thyroid dysfunction and decreased fertility.\u201d The substances have been used in stain-repellent and nonstick products, paints, coatings and many other items.<\/p>\n
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\n MMM, -0.40%<\/span><\/a><\/span>
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\n \u00a0, but it\u2019s not likely to become law in its current form, given opposition from the Republican-controlled Senate and the White House\u2019s promise that President Donald Trump would veto the bill. <\/p>\n
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\n DD, -2.03%<\/span><\/a><\/span>
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\n \u00a0and Chemours
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\n CC, -1.85%<\/span><\/a><\/span>
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\n \u00a0\u201ccould be on the hook for billions of dollars in cleanup fees,\u201d analysts at Beacon Policy Advisors said in a note on Thursday. In a similar vein, Height\u2019s analysts said the PFAS Action Act \u201cwould increase liabilities for PFAS manufacturers like 3M and Chemours, while benefiting water remediation companies like Evoqua
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\n AQUA, -0.22%<\/span><\/a><\/span>
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\n \u00a0.\u201d<\/p>\n