SenateEnvironment and Public WorksCommittee Chairman John BarrassoJohn Anthony BarrassoOvernight Energy: Dems outline legislation to make US carbon neutral by 2050 | 2019 was second warmest year on record | Top Republican says 'forever chemical' bill won't move in Senate Top Republican: 'Forever chemical' bill has 'no prospects' in Senate GOP senators introduce resolution to change rules, dismiss impeachment without articles MORE (R-Wyo.) told Bloomberg News a House bill addressing so-called "forever chemicals" has no prospects in the Senate.

The bill, HR-535, would both force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set nationwide drinking water standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substancesoften abbreviated PFAS and require the EPA to place such chemicals on its hazardous substance list. This could potentially mean designating any contaminated location as a Superfund site, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.

The chemicals, which derive their "forever" nickname from their resistance to breaking down in the environment, are frequently used in nonstick consumer goods and have been linked to health problems by the EPA. One studylinked PFAS with kidney and thyroid cancer along with high cholesterol and other illnesses.

Barrassosaid he specifically objected to the bills Superfund provisions, which he said go way beyond a bipartisan PFAS-related bill his Senate committee passed over the summer as an amendment to a defense spending bill.

The bill ultimately became law in December, but by that pointlanguage requiring an enforceable PFAS drinking-water standard had been removed due to objections by House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.).

Barrassowas not the only Republican to express skepticism about whether the bill could passthe GOP-led Senate Wednesday.

"We're back now with a partisan bill that stands no chance," Rep. Greg WaldenGregory (Greg) Paul WaldenOvernight Energy: Dems outline legislation to make US carbon neutral by 2050 | 2019 was second warmest year on record | Top Republican says 'forever chemical' bill won't move in Senate Democrats outline sweeping legislation to make U.S. carbon neutral by 2050 Top Republican: 'Forever chemical' bill has 'no prospects' in Senate MORE (R-Ore.) told reporters.

Rep. John ShimkusJohn Mondy ShimkusOvernight Energy: Dems outline legislation to make US carbon neutral by 2050 | 2019 was second warmest year on record | Top Republican says 'forever chemical' bill won't move in Senate Top Republican: 'Forever chemical' bill has 'no prospects' in Senate Koch campaign touts bipartisan group behind ag labor immigration bill MORE (R-Ill.) also expressed doubts.

"There's some Republican amendments that have been accepted," said Shimkus. "It's not enough to turn the tide on the vast majority of Republicans."

"The Superfund provision is really problematic and that's really what stopped the Senate in the final negotiation," Shimkus added.

The White House has also threatened to veto the House bill, saying it would constrain the EPA from keeping up to date on the latest scientific understanding of the chemicals.

The bill passed the House Rules Committee on Tuesday and is expected to come before the full house as early as Thursday.

-- Additional reporting by Rachel Frazin

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