IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 803 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 6, 2009 Mr. Space (for himself and Mr. Terry) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Expressing the support of the House of Representatives regarding the merits and benefits of the Laundry Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) program, which improves the environment through textile services industry wide conservation of water and energy, reducing pollutants, and using safer surfactants.

Whereas LaundryESP is a voluntary pollution-prevention and resource-conservation program where members are encouraged to participate through a variety of initiatives, including— (1)the establishment of recycling, reuse, and recovery programs in each plant; (2)implementation of best-management practices to conserve resources and reduce pollution; (3)self-assessments of operations and environmental compliance; (4)use of environmentally beneficial chemicals; (5)installation of more efficient equipment; and (6)education of and partnerships with customers to reduce pollutants; Whereas LaundryESP encompasses 170 textile service companies and 750 laundry plants which account for the majority of the industry’s production serving light, heavy, and high-technology manufacturing, hospitals, medical clinics, hotels, transportation industries, retail businesses, and restaurant services; Whereas LaundryESP is a cost-effective and flexible program in which textile services industry companies can improve their environmental performance; Whereas LaundryESP is designed to arrive at more efficient use of resources including water, energy, and wash chemicals through innovative, new approaches; Whereas the primary goal of LaundryESP is to facilitate the textile services industry’s continued commitment to environmental protection, built on a foundation of strengths in recycling and reuse; Whereas LaundryESP over the past decade has resulted in— (1)41 percent increase in textile service production (12.16 billion pounds of textiles processed today vs. 8.62 billion a decade ago); (2)43 percent pollutant reduction (17,500 lbs. of pollutants, as measured by pollutant equivalents, did not have to be treated at the local wastewater treatment facility); (3)28 percent reduction in water use (translates to a savings of 26 billion gallons which would serve the water needs of 700,000 people per year); (4)15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (the equivalent of taking 220,000 cars off the road every year over the decade); and (5)14 percent decrease in total energy use (the equivalent of the total amount of electricity used annually by 450,000 United States homes); and Whereas the textile services industry has been working actively with the Environmental Protection Agency to promote green environmentally friendly business practices industry wide, and the Environmental Protection Agency has reviewed LaundryESP and found significant progress in water and energy conservation, pollutant wash chemical reductions, and greater use of environmentally friendly wash chemicals: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives commends LaundryESP and the textile services industry for their voluntary industry wide commitments to use less water and energy, use more environmentally friendly wash formulas, and significantly reduce pollutants, producing an excellent example of a conservation and environmental protection program that fosters innovation, corporate stewardship, cooperation with regulatory authorities, and a willingness to change.