Kevin Ferrara, a retired U.S. Air Force firefighter, spoke to correspondent Laura Paskus from his home in Pennsylvania. Ferrara trained at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois in 1991 and was assigned to Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, N.M. until 1995. During that time, he and other firefighters used Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), now known to contain toxic chemicals that have contaminated local waters at hundreds of military bases nationwide. Today, Ferrara is an outspoken advocate for the U.S. military and Veterans Affairs to acknowledge the potential health impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on firefighters.

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, home for the August congressional recess, sits down with senior producer Matt Grubs. The pair discuss bipartisan efforts to forge a compromise over nearly $1 trillion in infrastructure projects. They also explore other congressional issues, including comprehensive immigration reform and the growing challenges from the fast-spreading Delta variant of COVID-19. Rep. Leger Fernandez also spent a few minutes with Groundwater War Correspondent Laura Paskus to discuss her efforts to deal with contamination from AFFFs, or firefighting foam used at military installations in New Mexico. 

Correspondents:

Matt Grubs

Laura Paskus

Guests:

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, NM-CD3

Kevin Ferrara, USAF (Retired)

For More Information:

Kevin Ferrara Full Interview

Groundwater War Website

Infrastructure Plan Would Add Hundreds of Billions to Deficit – Washington Post

Biden Signals Support for Unilateral Immigration Reform – New York Times