[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 304 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 304

      Designating July 2021 as ``Plastic Pollution Action Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 15, 2021

 Mr. Merkley (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Designating July 2021 as ``Plastic Pollution Action Month''.

Whereas plastic pollution represents a global threat that will require 
        individual and collective action, both nationally and internationally, 
        to address;
Whereas, since the 1950s, over 8,000,000,000 tons of plastic have been produced 
        worldwide;
Whereas, in the United States--

    (1) just 9 percent of plastic waste is sorted for recycling; and

    (2) less than 3 percent of plastic waste is recycled into a similar 
quality product;

Whereas a recent study found that, despite the United States only accounting for 
        4 percent of the global population in 2016, in that same year the United 
        States--

    (1) generated 17 percent of all plastic waste; and

    (2) ranked third among all countries contributing to coastal plastic 
pollution;

Whereas single-use plastics account for at least 40 percent of the plastic 
        produced every year;
Whereas over 12,000,000 tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year from 
        land-based sources alone;
Whereas, if no action is taken, the flow of plastics into the ocean is expected 
        to triple by 2040;
Whereas studies estimate that there are between 15,000,000,000,000 and 
        51,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the oceans;
Whereas, globally, 100,000 marine mammals die every year as a result of plastic 
        pollution;
Whereas plastics, and associated chemicals of plastics, directly impact human 
        health;
Whereas studies suggest that, every week, humans swallow the amount of plastic 
        that is in a credit card;
Whereas taking action to reduce plastic use, collect and clean up litter, and 
        reuse and recycle more plastics will lead to less plastic pollution;
Whereas, every July, people challenge themselves to reduce their plastic 
        footprint through ``Plastics Free July'';
Whereas, during the International Coastal Cleanup in 2020, nearly 950,000 people 
        across the globe cleaned up over 10,000 tons of plastic from beaches;
Whereas switching to reusable items instead of single-use items can prevent 
        waste, save water, and reduce litter; and
Whereas July 2021 is an appropriate month to designate as Plastic Pollution 
        Action Month to recommit to taking action, individually and as a 
        country, to reduce plastic pollution: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates July 2021 as ``Plastic Pollution Action 
        Month'';
            (2) recognizes the dangers to human health and the 
        environment posed by plastic pollution; and
            (3) encourages all individuals in the United States to 
        protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild the environment by 
        responsibly participating in activities to reduce plastic 
        pollution in July 2021 and year-round.
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