Congressman Pallone's New Bill To Tax Superfund Polluters

LONG BRANCH—Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06) introduced legislation to Congress on April 20th that, if passed, would make sure that no taxpayer dollars would go towards the cleaning up of a Superfund site.

The Superfund Polluter Pays Act will see the Superfund tax reinstated to ensure that the ones who polluted these pieces of land will pay for its cleanup, not citizens.

“The American taxpayer should not be paying for the mistakes of corporate polluters,” Congressman Pallone said in a press release.

Roughly 50 percent of New Jersey’s population lives within three miles of a Superfund site, which are areas contaminated with toxic substances that can make their way into the air, drinking water wells, creeks, and rivers, backyards, playgrounds, and streets.

Communities impacted by these sites can face restrictions on water, land use, recreational activities, and economic losses due to property value decline due to proximity to contaminated sites.

In the worst cases, residents can face health problems like cardiac impacts, infertility, low birth weight, congenital disabilities, leukemia, and respiratory difficulties.

“Superfund sites threaten public and environmental health in New Jersey and across the country, and those sites could be cleaned up faster with adequate funding,” Congressman Pallone said.

“The Superfund Polluter Pays Act will replenish the necessary funds by holding corporations accountable for environmental degradation. Congress must step up and pass legislation that protects hardworking families from having to pay for the misdeeds of corporate polluters.”