Duval Times

Washington, D.C. - Senator Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio have joined forces with their colleagues to address the issue of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at military bases in Florida. They have written a letter to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Lloyd Austin, seeking clarification on the extent of the health impacts of PFAS exposure on service members and their families, as well as information on PFAS remediation efforts at Florida's military installations.

The letter, signed by Senators Scott and Rubio, as well as several representatives from Florida, emphasizes the need for full information on the health risks of PFAS and a commitment from the DoD to mitigate any harm caused by PFAS exposure. The lawmakers are particularly concerned about the potential contamination of water sources at military bases, which puts service members and their families at risk of diseases such as cancer.

"Our service members, and their families, deserve full information on the health risks of PFAS, as well as a commitment by the DoD to mitigate any harm that may be caused by PFAS exposure on military installations. As such, we request a full accounting of the progress for PFAS remediation efforts on each of Florida's military installations," the letter states.

The senators and representatives are also concerned about the timeline for PFAS cleanup efforts. They believe that the current cleanup timelines are not urgent enough to address the impacts of PFAS on service members, their families, and the surrounding communities. They are seeking more information on the criteria for the current cleanup timeline and how installations are prioritized for timely action.

In addition to the cleanup efforts, the lawmakers want to ensure that there is a process in place for tracking cancer rates among service members exposed to PFAS. They are requesting a detailed accounting of all measures being taken to track the health impacts of PFAS, particularly in regards to cancer rates.

The letter also asks about the steps the DoD is taking to assist service members and their families who are currently suffering from negative health impacts due to PFAS exposure. The lawmakers want to know what is being done to inform service members about the potential harm they may experience and how the DoD ensures that service members are made aware of their possible exposure to PFAS and the available resources.

Furthermore, the letter questions whether the DoD is on track to meet the requirements outlined in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 to phase out AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) at all military installations by October 1, 2024.

Lastly, the lawmakers are requesting a comprehensive update on the status of ongoing efforts at each DoD installation in Florida, including information on the expected timing of milestones and completion dates of investigations and remediation activities.

The letter concludes by thanking Secretary Austin for his attention to this important matter.

This joint effort by Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, along with their colleagues, aims to ensure the safety and well-being of service members and their families by addressing the issue of PFAS contamination at military bases in Florida.