[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5182 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5182
To establish a Federal working group for recycled plastic content
traceability, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 30, 2026
Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Booker)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a Federal working group for recycled plastic content
traceability, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Tracking Plastic Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. FEDERAL WORKING GROUP FOR RECYCLED PLASTIC CONTENT
TRACEABILITY.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a Federal working group
for recycled plastic content traceability (referred to in this section
as the ``Working Group'').
(b) Members.--
(1) In general.--The Working Group shall be composed of the
following members:
(A) A representative of each of the following
departments and agencies, to be designated by the head
of the respective department or agency:
(i) The Environmental Protection Agency.
(ii) The Federal Trade Commission.
(iii) The Department of Agriculture.
(iv) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
(v) The Department of State.
(vi) The National Institute of Standards
and Technology.
(vii) The National Laboratory of the
Rockies.
(B) 1 or more representatives of each of the
following, to be designated jointly by the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
and the Secretary of Commerce:
(i) Institutions of higher education.
(ii) The National Academy of Sciences.
(2) Initial designations.--The initial members of the
Working Group shall be designated not later than 90 days after
the date of enactment of this Act.
(3) Lead agencies.--In carrying out the duties of the
Working Group under subsection (c)--
(A) the National Institute of Standards and
Technology shall lead the Working Group with respect to
developing recommendations for recycled plastic content
traceability; and
(B) the Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of Commerce shall jointly lead the Working
Group with respect to all other duties described in
that subsection.
(c) Duties.--The Working Group, in coordination with States, local
governments, Indian Tribes, nonprofit organizations, material recovery
facilities, plastic reclaimers using recycled content, and academic
institutions, shall, using the National Recycling Strategy of the
Environmental Protection Agency as a guide--
(1) develop recommendations to increase the use of post-
consumer resin and, in developing those recommendations,
consider--
(A) the necessary capacity of and improvements to
domestic markets for the use of recycled plastics
generated in the United States;
(B) economic benefits of using post-consumer resin
in recycling; and
(C) ways to monitor and measure the presence of
toxic chemicals in post-consumer resin content; and
(2) develop recommendations to improve the measurement,
traceability, and reporting of recycled plastic content in
applicable sectors of the economy, including the packaging,
construction, infrastructure, and automotive sectors and, in
developing those recommendations--
(A) develop and establish standardized measurements
for data collection relating to recycled plastics,
which shall, to the extent practicable, be consistent
with international standards, such as the Australia
National Framework for Recycled Content Traceability
and standards used in North America and by other
trading partners;
(B) describe a Federal recycled plastic content
tracking system for the purpose of assisting in
harmonizing State recycled plastic content
requirements;
(C) consider ways to improve trade data clarity
related to recycled plastic content traceability,
including reevaluating plastic trade codes for recycled
content; and
(D) consider ways to improve traceability of
plastic marine debris.
(d) Report.--The Working Group shall submit to Congress and make
publicly available annual reports describing the activities of the
Working Group during the previous year, including--
(1) a summary of any recommendations developed or updated
under subsection (c); and
(2) a summary of any issues for which recommendations are
being considered for development or updating under subsection
(c).
(e) Termination.--The Working Group shall terminate when the
Working Group has fulfilled all duties of the Working Group under this
Act, which shall be not later than the date that is 10 years after the
date on which the Working Group is established.
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