[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1298 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1298

    Encouraging efforts to reduce the use of paper and plastic bags.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 22, 2010

Mr. Moran of Virginia (for himself, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Farr, Mr. Ryan of 
Ohio, Mr. Honda, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Berman, Mr. Nadler 
  of New York, Ms. Woolsey, Ms. Edwards of Maryland, Mr. Connolly of 
Virginia, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Boyd, Mrs. Capps, Ms. Harman, Mrs. 
   Davis of California, Mr. Waxman, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. 
 Schauer, Ms. Watson, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Hinchey, and Mr. 
 Garamendi) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

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                               RESOLUTION


 
    Encouraging efforts to reduce the use of paper and plastic bags.

Whereas paper and plastic disposable bags are distributed extensively throughout 
        our society and are typically disposed of after their initial use;
Whereas the rate of recycling of paper and plastic disposable bags is extremely 
        low, accounting for only 1-3 percent of plastic bags and only 13-15 
        percent of paper bags;
Whereas paper and plastic disposable bags consume valuable natural resources in 
        their production, increase waste generation, and contribute to litter;
Whereas plastic bags inflict direct environmental damages to communities, making 
        up over half of the plastic in the Anacostia River and over 43 percent 
        of litter in the Los Angeles River;
Whereas the impact of single-use retail plastic and paper bags imposes a high 
        cost on citizens in terms of recycling, landfill, sewer cleanup costs, 
        and environmental damage;
Whereas legislation that imposes a fee on plastic and paper bag consumption in 
        the District of Columbia has drastically reduced disposable bag 
        consumption;
Whereas United States businesses recognize natural resource limitations and the 
        need to design systems and encourage practices that minimize the use of 
        and recover these valuable materials;
Whereas many United States businesses are already establishing programs, 
        including consumer credit programs, that promote the use of reusable 
        bags and reduce distribution of plastic and paper bags; and
Whereas these programs have benefitted businesses, consumers, and the 
        environment, and overall have been highly successful: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
States should take any and all necessary measures to--
            (1) establish targets for businesses to reduce distribution 
        of plastic and paper bag use by 40 percent over the next 5 
        years;
            (2) encourage businesses to adopt consumer credit programs 
        to promote reusable bag use;
            (3) educate the public about using reusable bags through 
        public-private initiatives, public awareness campaigns, and 
        other methods whenever possible; and
            (4) facilitate the dissemination of best practices among 
        businesses for reducing single-use retail bag consumption.
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