119-hr3184

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3184 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3184

 To drive innovation in developing next-generation protection for 
firefighters by accelerating the development of PFAS-free turnout gear, 
 and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 May 5, 2025

 Mrs. Dingell (for herself, Mr. Graves, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Fitzpatrick, 
 Ms. Titus, Mr. Kean, Mr. Ivey, and Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
 determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To drive innovation in developing next-generation protection for 
firefighters by accelerating the development of PFAS-free turnout gear, 
 and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Firefighters and 
Advancing State-of-the-Art Alternatives Act'' or the ``PFAS 
Alternatives Act''.

SEC. 2. PREVENTING OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS AND INJURY BY EXPANDING THE 
 AVAILABILITY OF NEXT-GENERATION TURNOUT GEAR.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
 nonprofit organization, institution of higher education, 
 national fire service organization, or national fire safety 
 organization, as determined by the Secretary, with experience 
 in not fewer than three of the following:
        (A) Conducting research on issues related to cancer 
 and other occupational illnesses among firefighters.
        (B) Educating firefighters and other users of 
 turnout gear on safe use, cleaning, and decontamination 
 of turnout gear.
            (C) Educating firefighters on matters related to 
 physical health, safety, and wellness.
            (D) Experience collaborating with other national 
 nonprofit organizations to support research on 
 firefighter safety and health.
        (E) Demonstrated ability to collaborate with 
 researchers on matters related to firefighter health 
 and safety.
        (F) Representing membership comprised of 
 structural, wildfire, and aircraft firefighters and 
 supervisors.

    (2) Moisture barrier materials.--The term ``moisture 
 barrier material'' means the component of turnout gear that 
 principally prevents the transfer of hazardous liquids, 
 including hot liquids, fireground chemicals, and infectious 
 fluids, and contributes to the overall thermal insulation of 
 the firefighter without imposing undue burdens or otherwise 
 compromising the performance of turnout gear.

    (3) PFAS.--The term ``PFAS'' means per- and polyfluoroalkyl 
 substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated carbon 
 atom or any other substance the Secretary determines 
 appropriate.

    (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Health and Human Services.

    (5) Turnout gear.--The term ``turnout gear'' means 
 protective clothing worn as a main source of protection for 
 firefighters and emergency medical services personnel during 
 firefighting and post-fire operations to minimize exposure to 
 hazards that cause serious injuries and illnesses that may 
 result from contact with thermal, physical, chemical, 
 biological, or other workplace hazards. Turnout gear--
        (A) includes protective clothing designed to 
 protect firefighters performing structural 
 firefighting, proximity firefighting, wildland 
 firefighting, and urban interface firefighting; and
        (B) may also include other personal protective 
 equipment referred to in 

section 33
            (c) (3)
            (I) 
            (i) of the 
 Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
 U.S.C. 2229
            (c) (3)
            (I) 
            (i) ).

    (b) Research Programs.--

    (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
 appropriations, not later than 180 days after the date of the 
 enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
 Services, acting through the Director of the National Institute 
 for Occupational Safety and Health, in consultation with the 
 heads of other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall establish 
 a program to award grants to eligible entities to support 
 research, development, and testing of next-generation turnout 
 gear and associated materials.

    (2) Requirements.--
        (A) PFAS-free components.--Grants awarded under 
 this subsection shall support the research, 
 development, and testing of materials to design and 
 produce PFAS-free turnout gear.
        (B) Partnership.--The Secretary shall require that 
 applications for grants under this subsection include a 
 description of how the eligible entity will partner 
 with organizations in, and relevant to, the 
 firefighting industry, including organizations that 
 directly represent members who serve in nonmanagerial 
 firefighting roles, and how such partnership will help 
 move the results of research, development, and testing 
 described in subparagraph
        (A) into practice, including 
 guidance and training for first responders and others 
 who regularly use turnout gear.

    (3) Considerations.--In making awards under this 
 subsection, the Secretary may consider the extent to which the 
 activities proposed support the research, development, and 
 testing described in subparagraph
        (A) that is likely to prevent 
 occupational illness and injury for firefighters, including 
 innovations that provide the following:
        (A) Enhanced protection against primary and 
 secondary exposure to particulates and byproducts of 
 combustion.
        (B) Reduced maintenance that includes contamination 
 resistance and greater ease of cleaning or visible 
 warning indicators to alert firefighters to hazardous 
 exposures or the need for decontamination.
            (C) Consideration of body composition in 
 development of prototypes and other products.

    (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
 to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 
 through fiscal year 2029 to carry out this subsection.
            (c) Training Programs.--

    (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
 appropriations, the Secretary, beginning in fiscal year 2027, 
 shall award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative 
 agreements with, eligible entities, as determined by the 
 Secretary, to develop and disseminate guidance and training for 
 firefighters and other first responders on best practices for 
 reducing potentially harmful exposures by safely wearing, 
 decontaminating, and caring for turnout gear developed in 
 accordance with section

    (b) .

    (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
 to be appropriated $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 
 through fiscal year 2031 to carry out this subsection.
            (d) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
describing the progress made in achieving the goals under subsections

    (b) and
            (c) .
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