Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) partnered with Florida’s U.S. Senator Rick Scott and U.S. Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17) to introduce the bipartisan Microplastics Safety Act. The new legislation is a critical step forward in better understanding the threat of microplastics to human health.
“Most of us have been taught the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Too often, the reality for plastics is really the three Bs—buried, burned, and borne out to sea—as dangerous chemicals are seeping into our soil, air, and water,” said Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight. “Microplastics threaten human health and our environment, and our bipartisan effort will ensure the federal government better understands the dangers they pose, ensuring a healthier planet and future for all Americans.”
“We can’t take a wait-and-see approach here – it’s time to be proactive. We’ve got to get a handle on how microplastics are getting in our food, beverages, and everyday items, and figure out how they’re affecting our health,” said Bynum. “I’m all about the data. That’s why I’m teaming up with Senator Merkley, Senator Scott, and Representative Steube to get the information we need to keep our constituents – and all Americans – safe and healthy.”
“I’m deeply concerned about how microplastics may be impacting the health of Americans – particularly vulnerable groups like our youth,” said Scott. “As chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, I’m also especially focused on the long-term harm microplastics pose to aging Americans. Microplastics have been found throughout the human body, including in the blood, liver, placenta, and even brain tissue, and have been linked to serious health conditions such as cancer, endocrine disruption, and chronic illness. The Microplastics Safety Act is a critical step toward understanding the full scope of these risks. As exposure continues to grow through food, water, air, and everyday products, this legislation will help ensure we’re guided by sound science to protect public health and our next generation.”
“For years, the federal government buried its head in the sand while microplastics infected our water and food supply,” said Steube. “Charlotte, Lee, and Sarasota Counties have all been flagged as high-risk areas for microplastic exposure, with alarming rates of chronic illness and disease. Yet the FDA still tells Americans not to worry. This is unacceptable. Americans deserve to know what they’re being exposed to, how it’s affecting their health, and what Washington plans to do about it.”
The bipartisan Microplastics Safety Act directs the Food & Drug Administration to submit a report to Congress on the human health impacts of exposure to microplastics in food and water, focusing on risks to children’s health, the endocrine system, and reproductive health, as well as associated risks related to cancer and chronic illnesses.
Throughout July, Merkley—who has long led Congressional efforts to address our plastic pollution crisis—is leading the charge to spotlight the harms of plastic pollution on our air, water, and soil. He introduced a Congressional resolution designating July as Plastic Pollution Action Month, urging Americans to protect our planet by taking steps to reduce their plastic pollution.
Full text of the Microplastics Safety Act can be found by clicking here.
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