Forever Chemical Regulation and Accountability Act of 2026

Sponsored byRep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]MN· Introduced 19 March 2026

Open on Congress.gov

Cosponsors

Actions

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Committees

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Since introduced

Introduced

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Enacted

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Latest action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

20 March 2026·4 months ago

Summary

Introduced in House · Updated 6 June 2026

Forever Chemical Regulation and Accountability Act of 2026

This bill phases out the release and nonessential use of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and addresses PFAS research, remediation, regulation, and enforcement.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must require each manufacturer and user of PFAS to submit annual reports that include specified information about the essential (e.g., critical for health or safety reasons) and nonessential uses of PFAS by such entities. Not later than 10 years after the enactment of this bill, manufacturers and users must fully phase out nonessential uses of PFAS.

The bill also

establishes specified deadlines to phase out the sale of certain products containing PFAS;
requires federal agencies, to the maximum extent practicable, to eliminate the procurement of products known to contain PFAS;
imposes a 10-year phaseout of the release of PFAS above a certain threshold of detection;
provides enforcement authority to the EPA regarding violations of the requirements of the bill, including through civil and criminal penalties;
allows citizen suits against manufacturers and users of PFAS and the EPA; and
addresses actions under state law related to damages from exposure to hazardous substances, including with regard to statutes of repose.

The bill exempts from a bankruptcy petition’s automatic stay any proceeding against a non-debtor entity (e.g., a proceeding to obtain property from a non-debtor) with respect to a PBT claim (a claim relating to persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals) against the non-debtor entity, the debtor, or the estate.

Timeline

8 actions

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
20 March 2026 · Committee
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services, 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.
19 March 2026 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services, 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.
19 March 2026 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services, 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.
19 March 2026 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services, 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.
19 March 2026 · IntroReferral
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services, 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.
19 March 2026 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
19 March 2026 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
19 March 2026 · IntroReferral
Introduced in House
19 March 2026 · IntroReferral

Sponsorship

6 cosponsors

Sponsor

Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]MN

Cosponsors

Democrat6100%

Democrat:Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]IN
Democrat:Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]FL
Democrat:Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]IL
Democrat:Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]IL
Democrat:Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]AZ
Democrat:Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]MN

Classification

Policy area

Environmental Protection

Committees

Armed Services Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To19 Mar 2026
Energy and Commerce Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To19 Mar 2026
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To19 Mar 2026
Science, Space, and Technology Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To19 Mar 2026
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
House · Standing
- Referred To19 Mar 2026
- Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee
  - Referred to20 Mar 2026

Cosponsor momentum

Cumulative over time

Track Forever Chemical Regulation and Accountability Act of 2026 as it moves through Congress