II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4884 

To require that all new washing machines sold or offered for sale in the 

United States contain a microfiber filtration system, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 31, 2024 

Mr. MERKLEY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To require that all new washing machines sold or offered 

for sale in the United States contain a microfiber filtration system, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fighting Fibers Act 

5 of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF ADMINISTRATOR. 

7 In this Act, the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad8 ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. 

9 SEC. 3. MICROFIBER FILTRATION IN WASHING MACHINES. 

10 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) MICROFIBER FILTRATION SYSTEM.—The 

2 term ‘‘microfiber filtration system’’ means a filtra3 tion unit for a washing machine that is— 

4 (A) active across all washing cycles; and 

5 (B)(i) integrated into the washing machine 

6 design as a built-in filter; or 

7 (ii)(I) included as an in-line filter; and 

8 (II) packaged, sold, and installed with the 

9 washing machine. 

10 (2) WASHING MACHINE.— 

11 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘washing 

12 machine’’ means a machine designed and used 

13 for washing clothes and linen. 

14 (B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘washing ma15 chine’’ includes residential and commercial 

16 washing machines. 

17 (b) MICROFIBER FILTRATION.—The Administrator, 

18 jointly with the Secretary of Energy, shall ensure that, 

19 beginning on January 1, 2030, no new washing machine 

20 is sold or offered for sale in the United States unless the 

21 washing machine meets the following requirements: 

22 (1) Contains a microfiber filtration system— 

23 (A) with a mesh size of not greater than 

24 100 micrometers; or 


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1 (B) that meets another standard that is 

2 determined by the Administrator, jointly with 

3 the Secretary of Energy, in a rulemaking under 

4 subsection (c) to provide equal or greater effi5 cacy in reducing microfiber pollution as com6 pared to a microfiber filtration system with a 

7 mesh size of not greater than 100 micrometers. 

8 (2) Bears a conspicuous label that is visible to 

9 the consumer, in the form of a sticker or any other 

10 label type, that includes— 

11 (A) the following statement: ‘‘Notice: This 

12 washing machine contains a filter to capture 

13 microfibers. Check filter regularly and dispose 

14 of captured lint in a waste bin.’’; or 

15 (B) a similar label as determined by the 

16 Administrator, jointly with the Secretary of En17 ergy, in a rulemaking under subsection (c). 

18 (3) Such other requirements or standards as 

19 the Administrator, jointly with the Secretary of En20 ergy, may require through a rulemaking under sub21 section (c). 

22 (c) RULEMAKING.—The Administrator, jointly with 

23 the Secretary of Energy, may promulgate regulations to 

24 carry out this section. 

25 (d) CIVIL PENALTIES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Any person that violates the 

2 requirements of this section shall be assessed a civil 

3 penalty by the Administrator of— 

4 (A) in the case of a first violation, not 

5 more than $10,000; and 

6 (B) in the case of each subsequent viola7 tion, $30,000. 

8 (2) CUMULATIVE REMEDIES.—The remedies 

9 provided in this section are in addition to any other 

10 remedy available under any other law. 

11 (e) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this section im12 pairs or impedes any other right, cause of action, claim, 

13 or defense available under any other law. 

14 SEC. 4. MICROFIBER RESEARCH AND DIRECTIVES. 

15 (a) DEFINITION OF MICROFIBER.—In this section, 

16 the term ‘‘microfiber’’ means a synthetic or natural textile 

17 fiber that is less than 5 millimeters in length. 

18 (b) STUDY.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in con20 sultation with the heads of other Federal depart21 ments and agencies as the Administrator determines 

22 to be necessary, shall carry out a nationwide study 

23 on— 


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1 (A) the presence of, sources of, and path2 ways used by microfibers in the human body 

3 and the environment; 

4 (B) whether the presence of microfibers in 

5 the human body and the environment has a 

6 toxic effect on human health and the environ7 ment; and 

8 (C) whether the presence of microfibers in 

9 the human body and the environment has an 

10 inequitable impact on environmental justice 

11 communities, as determined by the Adminis12 trator. 

13 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

14 date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 

15 shall submit to Congress, and make publicly avail16 able, a report that describes the results of the study 

17 under paragraph (1). 

Æ 


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