September 24, 2026
Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Rounds, Ms. Slotkin, and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To require the Secretary of Defense to initiate interim remedial actions with respect to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances at certain installations of the Department of Defense, 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 PFAS Remediation Actions to Prevent an Increasingly Delayed Response Act
or the PFAS RAPID Response Act
.
Sec. 2. Initiation of remedial actions with respect to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(a) Initiation of remedial actions
(1) In general
To the extent that it is consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and any other applicable law, and except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall initiate interim remedial actions with respect to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances at not fewer than 100 covered sites.
(2) Exception
(A) In general
The Secretary may initiate interim remedial actions with respect to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances at fewer than 100 covered sites only if the Secretary cannot find enough covered sites meeting the factor specified under section 300.415(b)(2)(i) of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulations.
(B) Report
If the Secretary utilizes the exception under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report verifying that the Secretary assessed each covered site and was unable to find a sufficient number of covered sites meeting the factor specified in such subparagraph.
(b) Timely completion of ongoing actions
The Secretary shall ensure the timely completion of interim remedial actions at installations of the Department of Defense that are ongoing as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Briefing required
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the status and outlook of remediation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances at covered sites.
(d) Covered site defined
In this section, the term covered site—
(1)
means, of the 727 installations of the Department of Defense assessed for use or potential use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances set forth in the publication of the Department dated June 30, 2026, the installations at which the estimated remedial investigation or feasibility study end date is delayed as compared to the date specified for such site in the similar publication of the Department dated December 31, 2024; and
(2)
shall be interpreted consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and any other applicable law.