HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Five Republican Congressmen sent a letter to Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer about one of her 147 line-item budget vetoes: PFAS testing.
She cut $15 million in funding for a grant program for municipal airports to test and monitor for PFAS.
In their letter to his the men noted “Michigan has a number of municipal airports … required to use and test Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) that contains PFAS and can be released into the groundwater,” according to a statement emailed to media for U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (MI-06), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Bill Huizenga (MI-02), Tim Walberg (MI-07), and Paul Mitchell (MI-10)
The full text of the letter:
“Dear Governor Whitmer:
PFAS contamination is such a serious issue in our state and in communities across the nation. We know our fight against PFAS contamination is just starting and we are proud that Michigan has been a leader on this issue, as we are one of the first states to test drinking water statewide and to establish a clean-up standard for PFAS in groundwater used for drinking water.
We are deeply concerned by your decision to veto $15,000,000 in funding for a grant program for municipal airports to test and monitor for PFAS. Michigan has hundreds of municipal airports that are required to use and test Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) that contain PFAS and can be released into the groundwater. These grants are critical to allowing them to do so.
PFAS contamination is both a threat to public health and Michigan’s economy. Many communities depend on groundwater for their drinking water, and it is imperative that we devote the necessary resources to test municipal airports, where we know there is a high probability of PFAS contamination. I hope you reconsider your veto and continue Michigan’s history of being a leader on PFAS testing and clean-up.”
