Rep. Gillen Introduces Bipartisan Bill with Local Mayors and Advocates to Fund PFAS Cleanup and Reduce Water Utility Costs for Long Islanders

A video of the full bill announcement is available HERE.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY - Today, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY-04) held a press conference with local Long Island mayors and clean water advocates to announce her bipartisan Protect Clean Water Act. Introduced alongside Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-08), the legislation will help communities fund the removal of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), "forever chemicals," and emerging contaminants from their water supply while relieving the financial burden on local ratepayers.

"For too long, Long Islanders have faced toxic cancer-causing PFAS contamination in our water while shouldering the high cost to make it safe," said Rep. Gillen. "I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Protect Clean Water Act alongside local mayors and clean water advocates in the fight to secure clean, safe water for Nassau County. This bill will authorize federal funding that our communities need to protect our water supply for the future without driving up costs for working families."

"Every family deserves access to clean, safe drinking water, regardless of where they live," said Rep. Fitzpatrick. "Across Pennsylvania and the country, PFAS and other emerging contaminants threaten our water supplies and put communities at risk. I've spent years fighting to clean up contaminated sites, hold polluters accountable, and protect the health of communities. This bill ensures states have the dedicated funding they need to address these threats, remove harmful contaminants from drinking water, and protect our waterways for generations to come."

"I want to thank Congresswoman Gillen for her continued partnership and her commitment to addressing the critical infrastructure needs of communities across the region," said Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray. "Providing safe, reliable drinking water is one of the most important responsibilities we have as local government officials. Congresswoman Gillen's bipartisan legislation to provide $10 billion over five years in federal funding for water contaminant remediation, including PFAS, represents an important step toward helping communities address emerging contaminants and make necessary investments to protect their water supplies."

"I want to thank Congresswoman Gillen for addressing the contamination of our domestic water here on Long Island, especially in the Village of Freeport," said Freeport Village Mayor Robert Kennedy. "I support Congresswoman Gillen's foresight and initiative to protect our children and grandchildren from contaminated water here on Long Island and in Freeport."

"Clean, safe drinking water is not a luxury but a necessity that every family deserves," said Hempstead Village Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr. "I commend Congresswoman Laura Gillen for her leadership and continued partnership with our office in protecting our drinking water while easing the financial burden on our residents. Here in the Village of Hempstead, we understand that every dollar matters, and this legislation is an important step toward ensuring safe, affordable drinking water for generations to come."

"Thank you, Congresswoman Gillen and your talented team for your passionate support of the bipartisan Protect Clean Water Act," said Garden City Mayor Edward Finneran. "The Mayor's office and residents of Garden City have been zeroed in on clean and safe water for years. It seems to me that water issues, although crucial to our general quality of life, can sometimes be back-burnered in this busy world of ours. However, Rep. Gillen's emphasis and hard work on the bill are a testament to her commitment that all families, especially young children in both her district and beyond, are provided with clean and safe water."

In 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provided $5 billion to help communities remove PFAS and other emerging contaminants from their water systems. However, that funding expired at the end of fiscal year 2026.

The Protect Clean Water Act would authorize $10 billion in funding dedicated for PFAS and emerging contaminant remediation over five years through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, giving communities critical federal support to invest in treatment technology and upgrade water infrastructure.

Removing PFAS is essential to protecting public health, though costly, as exposure to the chemical is linked to high cholesterol, birth defects and an increased risk of kidney and testicular cancers.

The American Water Works Association estimates that drinking water treatment investments alone could cost $2.7 billion to $3.5 billion annually. Local governments and water utilities will need to continue to increase their investment to make sure our water is free of PFAS. The Protect Clean Water Act would help communities address PFAS contamination while keeping water affordable for ratepayers.

"Toxic forever chemicals are pervasive in our water supply on Long Island and across the nation and must be removed in order to protect public health," said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE). "However, the high cost of installing treatment technology can cripple local budgets and raise costs for residents. This legislation provides much-needed increased federal funding that will allow communities to upgrade their water infrastructure, helping to provide clean and affordable drinking water to local residents. It is imperative that our drinking water is clean and affordable for all consumers. This bill achieves both essential goals. CCE commends Representative Gillen for her leadership in fighting to protect clean drinking water on Long Island and across the nation."

"The Clean Water Construction Coalition applauds Representatives Gillen and Fitzpatrick for their bipartisan leadership in sustaining federal investment to help communities address PFAS and other emerging contaminants," said Kyle England, Chair, Clean Water Construction Coalition. "The State Revolving Funds are proven, effective tools for delivering critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects, while also prioritizing water affordability. Continued federal support will protect public health, strengthen local economies, and give communities the resources they need to meet these growing challenges."

"The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies is proud to support the Protect Clean Water Act," said Dan Hartnett, Interim CEO, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. This legislation would provide public water systems with much-needed funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to address emerging contaminants, like PFAS. As public water systems face billions of dollars in costs annually to filter PFAS from our drinking water, more federal assistance will be crucial to ensure they have the resources to comply with EPA regulations and protect public health. AMWA thanks Representative Gillen for introducing this legislation and ensuring that public water systems can continue to provide the highest quality drinking water to their communities."

"Clean water utilities are on the front lines of protecting public health and the environment, but as utilities work to address emerging contaminants like PFAS, the rising costs of advanced wastewater treatment and the current lack of scalable, affordable technologies to destroy PFAS will place real financial strain on public utilities, and by extension their local communities and ratepayers," said Adam Krantz, CEO of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). "NACWA applauds Representatives Laura Gillen and Brian Fitzpatrick for their effort to ensure federal funding to help utilities address the public health concerns related to PFAS and other emerging contaminants."

"Water reuse technologies can help communities control and remediate harmful substances like PFAS, but keeping our communities safe requires federal investment," said Bruno Pigott, executive director of the WateReuse Association. "WateReuse Association commends Representatives Gillen and Fitzpatrick for introducing legislation that will protect public health, create jobs, and invest in critical infrastructure."

The legislation is endorsed by the Clean Water Construction Coalition, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the WateReuse Association and Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

The full bill text can be found here.

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