[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 296--DESIGNATING JULY 2023 AS ``PLASTIC POLLUTION 
                             ACTION MONTH''

  Mr. MERKLEY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:
       Whereas plastic pollution represents a global threat that 
     will require individual and collective action, both 
     nationally and internationally, to address;
       Whereas 450,000,000 tons of plastic is produced each year, 
     a number that is projected to triple by 2050;
       Whereas, in the United States--
       (1) the rate of plastic waste recycling decreased in 2021 
     to between 4 and 6 percent; and
       (2) less than 3 percent of plastic waste is recycled into a 
     similar quality product;
       Whereas a recent study from the Organisation for Economic 
     Cooperation and Development found that, in 2022, the United 
     States--
       (1) mismanaged 4 percent of plastic waste;
       (2) landfilled 73 percent of plastic waste;
       (3) incinerated 19 percent of plastic waste; and
       (4) recycled 4 percent of plastic waste;
       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 recent studies estimate that there are 
     171,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the oceans of the 
     world;
       Whereas of the 171,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the 
     ocean, 1 percent floats, 5 percent washes up on beaches, and 
     94 percent sinks to the bottom;
       Whereas nearly 1,300 marine species have consumed plastics;
       Whereas plastics, and associated chemicals of plastics, are 
     ingested by humans and are associated with well-established 
     human health risks;
       Whereas studies have found microplastic particles in human 
     blood, lungs, colons, and placentas;
       Whereas studies suggest that humans ingest over 800 
     microplastics per day;
       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, over the last 40 years, over 17,000,000 volunteers 
     have joined the International Coastal Cleanup to collect more 
     than 350,000,000 pounds of plastic and debris while 
     simultaneously recording their findings to inform research 
     and upstream action;
       Whereas switching to reusable items instead of single-use 
     items can prevent waste, save water, and reduce litter; and
       Whereas July 2023 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 2023 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 public health and 
     the environment by responsibly participating in activities to 
     reduce plastic pollution in July 2023 and year-round.

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