[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 124 (Thursday, July 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4930-S4931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 304--DESIGNATING JULY 2021 AS ``PLASTIC POLLUTION 
                             ACTION MONTH''

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

                              S. Res. 304

       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;

[[Page S4931]]

       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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