LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) - President Joe Biden said that the federal government would step in to help with the PFAS issue on French Island and elsewhere in the country.
The president referenced French Island and the groundwater contamination problems they've experienced during his speech in La Crosse Tuesday afternoon.
"Just this spring, your state had to provide free bottled water to thousands of people on French island because they were worried about those chemicals in the groundwater which were linked to cancer," the President said. "We'll pay for that. We'll get that done."
The president said that money in the $973 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan is earmarked for helping take care of the issue.
He finished his remarks on the PFAS issue by stating that Wisconsin isn't unique in having the problem.
He also touched investing in replacing lead water service lines that are throughout the country and the dangers of exposure to lead especially for children.
La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds greeted the president when he arrived in town and says he made a point to specifically talk with him about PFAS. Reynolds believes the president understood that this is not an issue that is unique to La Crosse. "He was very receptive, really understands that this is something that needs to be dealt with on a nationwide basis so I'm incredibly hopeful," said the mayor. "This is part of the infrastructure plan too, but (I'm) incredibly hopeful that we can continue to focus on the issue not only on a local level but a statewide level and national level as well. And I'm getting the feeling from the president that that's going to be the case."
Look at additional local coverage of the PFAS issue here.
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