[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 166 (Monday, October 21, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, oceans, lakes, and rivers across our planet 
are filled with debris that litters shorelines and threatens public 
health, navigation safety, wildlife, and the environment. This debris 
causes serious damage to the health of ocean ecosystems and marine life 
and, due to ocean currents, often travels great distances and poses 
threats to nations that are not responsible for the mismanagement of 
such waste.
  One of the most common forms of marine debris is plastic, which is 
abundant in our everyday lives, often in the form of single-use 
packaging. Countless seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine 
animals are killed each year after ingesting plastic or getting 
entangled in it. And most commonly used plastics never fully degrade 
but, rather, break down into smaller and smaller pieces, known as 
microplastics, which pose unique problems of their own.
  The negative health, environmental, and economic impacts of marine 
pollution, both to countries that discharge waste and to those on whose 
shorelines such waste washes up, are steadily mounting. Billions of 
pounds of plastic and other debris can be found in our oceans and 
waterways.
  In the Senate version of the fiscal year 2020 Department of State and 
Foreign Operations appropriations bill, which was reported unanimously 
by the Appropriations Committee on September 26, the committee 
recommended funding to respond to this global threat. In this bill, the 
committee directs the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for 
International Development to redouble their diplomatic and programmatic 
support for regional and global efforts to address this urgent problem, 
including through grants, technical assistance, and new multilateral 
mechanisms, and provides $10 million to support such efforts.
  While the funding provided is minuscule compared to what is needed, 
the committee's intent is clear. The United States must increase its 
leadership and visibility on this issue and become more engaged in 
efforts to prevent and mitigate the impacts of marine debris. The 
committee recognizes that the United States cannot address this problem 
alone. Nothing connects countries of the world more than oceans and 
waterways, and strong international cooperation is necessary to 
guarantee their conservation for generations to come. It is imperative 
that the United States increases its engagement both bilaterally and 
multilaterally to tackle this challenge.
  It is not an understatement to say that what I am speaking about--the 
protection of the oceans, lakes, and rivers of our planet--is essential 
to our existence. I hope other Senators will join me, Senator 
Whitehouse, and others who have taken up this cause in calling for 
additional resources to address ocean plastic pollution.

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