IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1298 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 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

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.