II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1982 

To improve efforts to combat marine debris, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 26, 2019 

Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. CARPER, and 

Ms. COLLINS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To improve efforts to combat marine debris, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Save Our Seas 2.0 Act’’ or the ‘‘SOS 2.0 Act’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

Sec. 3. Sense of Congress. 

TITLE I—ENHANCING THE DOMESTIC MARINE DEBRIS 

RESPONSE 


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Subtitle A—Marine Debris Response Trust Fund 

Sec. 101. Marine Debris Response Trust Fund. 

Subtitle B—Marine Debris Foundation 

Sec. 111. Establishment and purposes of Foundation. 

Sec. 112. Board of Directors of the Foundation. 

Sec. 113. Rights and obligations of the Foundation. 

Sec. 114. Administrative services and support. 

Sec. 115. Volunteer status. 

Sec. 116. Report requirements; petition of attorney general for equitable relief. 

Sec. 117. United States release from liability. 

Sec. 118. Authorization of appropriations. 

Subtitle C—Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovations 

Sec. 121. Definitions. 

Sec. 122. Genius prize for Save Our Seas Innovations. 

Sec. 123. Save Our Seas Innovation Steering Committee. 

Sec. 124. Agreement with the Marine Debris Foundation. 

Sec. 125. Judges. 

Sec. 126. Report to Congress. 

Sec. 127. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 128. Termination of authority. 

Subtitle D—Other Measures Relating to Combating Marine Debris 

Sec. 131. Prioritization of marine debris in existing innovation and entrepreneurship programs. 

Sec. 132. Expansion of derelict vessel recycling. 

Sec. 133. Incentive for fishermen to collect and dispose of plastic found at sea. 

Sec. 134. Amendments to Marine Debris Program. 

Sec. 135. Marine debris on National Forest System land. 

Subtitle E—Studies and Reports 

Sec. 141. Report on opportunities for innovative uses of plastic waste. 

Sec. 142. Report on microfiber pollution. 

Sec. 143. Study on United States plastic pollution data. 

Sec. 144. Report on minimizing the creation of new plastic waste. 

Sec. 145. Study on mass balance methodologies to certify circular polymers. 

TITLE II—ENHANCED GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT TO COMBAT 

MARINE DEBRIS 

Sec. 201. Statement of policy on international cooperation to combat marine 

debris. 

Sec. 202. Prioritization of efforts and assistance to combat marine debris and 

improve plastic waste management. 

Sec. 203. United States leadership in international fora. 

Sec. 204. Enhancing international outreach and partnership of United States 

agencies involved in marine debris activities. 

Sec. 205. Negotiation of new international agreements. 

Sec. 206. Consideration of marine debris in negotiating international agreements. 


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TITLE III—IMPROVING DOMESTIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO 

PREVENT MARINE DEBRIS 

Sec. 301. Definitions. 

Sec. 302. Strategy for improving waste management, recycling, and water management. 

Sec. 303. Waste management State revolving funds. 

Sec. 304. Grant programs. 

Sec. 305. Study on repurposing plastic waste in infrastructure. 

Sec. 306. Study on options to advance technologies for converting plastic waste 

to chemicals, feedstocks, and other products. 

Sec. 307. Study on effects of microplastics in food supplies and sources of 

drinking water. 

Sec. 308. Report on eliminating barriers to increase the collection of recyclable 

materials. 

Sec. 309. Report on economic incentives to spur development of new end-use 

markets for recycled plastics. 

1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

3 (1) CIRCULAR ECONOMY.—The term ‘‘circular 

4 economy’’ means an economy that uses a systems-fo5 cused approach and involves industrial processes and 

6 economic activities that— 

7 (A) are restorative or regenerative by de8 sign; 

9 (B) enable resources used in such proc10 esses and activities to maintain their highest 

11 values for as long as possible; and 

12 (C) aim for the elimination of waste 

13 through the superior design of materials, prod14 ucts, and systems (including business models). 

15 (2) EPA ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘EPA 

16 Administrator’’ means the Administrator of the En17 vironmental Protection Agency. 


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1 (3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

2 has the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ in 

3 section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu4 cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

5 (4) MARINE DEBRIS.—The term ‘‘marine de6 bris’’ has the meaning given that term in section 7 

7 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1956). 

8 (5) MARINE DEBRIS EVENT.—The term ‘‘ma9 rine debris event’’ means an event or related events 

10 that affects or may imminently affect the United 

11 States involving— 

12 (A) marine debris caused by a natural 

13 event, including a tsunami, flood, landslide, 

14 hurricane, or other natural source; 

15 (B) distinct, nonrecurring marine debris, 

16 including derelict vessel groundings and con17 tainer spills, that have immediate or long-term 

18 impacts on habitats with high ecological, eco19 nomic, or human-use values; or 

20 (C) marine debris caused by an intentional 

21 or grossly negligent act or acts that causes sub22 stantial economic or environmental harm. 

23 (6) NON-FEDERAL FUNDS.—The term ‘‘non24 Federal funds’’ means funds provided by— 

25 (A) a State; 


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1 (B) an Indian Tribe; 

2 (C) a territory of the United States; 

3 (D) one or more units of local governments 

4 or Tribal organizations (as defined in section 4 

5 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 

6 Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); 

7 (E) a private for-profit entity; 

8 (F) a nonprofit organization; or 

9 (G) a private individual. 

10 (7) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.—The term 

11 ‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means an organization that 

12 is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Rev13 enue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under sec14 tion 501(a) of such Code. 

15 (8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 

16 (A) a State; 

17 (B) an Indian Tribe; 

18 (C) the District of Columbia; and 

19 (D) a territory or possession of the United 

20 States. 

21 (9) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under 

22 Secretary’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce 

23 for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of 

24 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra25 tion. 


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1 (10) WASTE MANAGEMENT.—The term ‘‘waste 

2 management’’ means the systems, operation, super3 vision, and aftercare of processes and equipment 

4 used for waste— 

5 (A) collection; 

6 (B) transport; 

7 (C) recovery; 

8 (D) reuse; 

9 (E) recycling; and 

10 (F) safe disposal of waste when recovery, 

11 reuse, or recycling are not otherwise available. 

12 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

13 It is the sense of Congress that— 

14 (1) eliminating plastic waste from the oceans 

15 requires a multi-faceted approach, including waste 

16 reduction and prevention, reuse and recycling, and 

17 innovation; 

18 (2) both domestic and international efforts are 

19 required to make progress in combating marine de20 bris; 

21 (3) efforts by States, communities, and corpora22 tions to minimize the use of single-use plastic prod23 ucts have been successful in raising awareness of the 

24 marine debris issue; and 


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1 (4) while we make progress toward a more sus2 tainable future, we must recognize that there is sig3 nificant amount of plastic waste that has already 

4 been created that must be prevented from entering 

5 the oceans through recycling, reuse, repurposing, 

6 and other innovative means. 

7 TITLE I—ENHANCING THE DO8 MESTIC MARINE DEBRIS RE9 SPONSE 

10 Subtitle A—Marine Debris 

11 Response Trust Fund 

12 SEC. 101. MARINE DEBRIS RESPONSE TRUST FUND. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter A of chapter 98 of the 

14 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at 

15 the end the following: 

16 ‘‘SEC. 9512. MARINE DEBRIS RESPONSE TRUST FUND. 

17 ‘‘(a) CREATION OF TRUST FUND.—There is estab18 lished in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund 

19 to be known as the ‘Marine Debris Response Trust Fund’, 

20 consisting of such amounts as may be appropriated or 

21 credited to the Trust Fund as provided in this section. 

22 ‘‘(b) PURPOSES OF TRUST FUND.— 

23 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Amounts in the Marine De24 bris Response Trust Fund shall be available for the 

25 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 


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1 to respond to a marine debris event described in 

2 paragraph (2), which may include— 

3 ‘‘(A) monitoring, response, and prevention; 

4 ‘‘(B) providing funding to States, terri5 tories, Tribes, and other United States Govern6 ment and nongovernmental organizations sup7 porting prevention, cleanup, and response ef8 forts; or 

9 ‘‘(C) administrative costs relating to dis10 tributing amounts from the Trust Fund. 

11 ‘‘(2) MARINE DEBRIS EVENT DESCRIBED.—A 

12 marine debris event described in this paragraph is 

13 an event that affects or may affect the United 

14 States involving— 

15 ‘‘(A) marine debris caused by a natural 

16 event, including a tsunami, flood, landslide, 

17 hurricane, or other natural source; 

18 ‘‘(B) distinct, nonrecurring marine debris, 

19 including derelict vessel groundings and con20 tainer spills, that have immediate or long-term 

21 impacts on habitats with high ecological, eco22 nomic, or human-use values; or 

23 ‘‘(C) marine debris caused by an inten24 tional or grossly negligent act or acts that 


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1 causes substantial economic or environmental 

2 harm. 

3 ‘‘(c) LIMITATIONS ON EXPENDITURES.— 

4 ‘‘(1) MAXIMUM PER EVENT.—The maximum 

5 amount that may be paid from the Marine Debris 

6 Response Trust Fund with respect to any single 

7 event may not exceed $100,000,000. 

8 ‘‘(2) MINIMUM BALANCE.—A payment may be 

9 made from the Marine Debris Response Trust Fund 

10 only if the amount in the Trust Fund after the pay11 ment will not be less than $1,000,000. 

12 ‘‘(3) MAXIMUM BALANCE.—Amounts in the Ma13 rine Debris Response Trust Fund may not exceed 

14 $500,000,000. 

15 ‘‘(d) INITIAL FUNDING.—There are authorized to be 

16 appropriated to the Marine Debris Response Trust Fund 

17 $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 to establish the Trust 

18 Fund. 

19 ‘‘(e) AUTHORITY TO BORROW.— 

20 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 

21 appropriated to the Marine Debris Response Trust 

22 Fund, as repayable advances, such sums as may be 

23 necessary to carry out the purposes of the Trust 

24 Fund. 


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1 ‘‘(2) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OUTSTANDING.— 

2 The maximum aggregate amount of repayable ad3 vances to the Marine Debris Response Trust Fund 

4 outstanding at any one time may not exceed 

5 $1,000,000. 

6 ‘‘(3) REPAYMENT OF ADVANCES.— 

7 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Advances made to the 

8 Marine Debris Response Trust Fund shall be 

9 repaid, and interest on such advances shall be 

10 paid, to the general fund of the Treasury when 

11 the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with 

12 the Secretary of the Treasury, determines that 

13 amounts are available for such purposes in the 

14 Trust Fund. 

15 ‘‘(B) FINAL REPAYMENT.—No advance 

16 may be made to the Marine Debris Response 

17 Trust Fund after September 30, 2035, and all 

18 advances to such Fund shall be repaid on or be19 fore that date. 

20 ‘‘(C) RATE OF INTEREST.—Interest on ad21 vances made pursuant to this subsection shall 

22 be— 

23 ‘‘(i) at a rate determined by the Sec24 retary of the Treasury (as of the close of 

25 the calendar month preceding the month in 


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1 which the advance is made) to be equal to 

2 the current average market yield on out3 standing marketable obligations of the 

4 United States with remaining periods to 

5 maturity comparable to the anticipated pe6 riod during which the advance will be out7 standing, and 

8 ‘‘(ii) compounded annually. 

9 ‘‘(f) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts in the Ma10 rine Debris Response Trust Fund shall— 

11 ‘‘(1) be available without fiscal year limitation 

12 and without apportionment; and 

13 ‘‘(2) shall supplement and not supplant other 

14 amounts available for responding to marine debris 

15 events. 

16 ‘‘(g) INVESTMENT.—The Secretary of the Treasury 

17 shall invest amounts in the Marine Debris Response Trust 

18 Fund in interest bearing obligations of the United States 

19 to the extent such amounts are not required to meet cur20 rent withdrawals. Interest earned by such investments 

21 shall be credited to, and become a part of, the Trust Fund. 

22 ‘‘(h) ADMINISTRATION.—The Under Secretary of 

23 Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall prescribe reg24 ulations— 


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1 ‘‘(1) providing for a process for submitting a 

2 claim to the Marine Debris Response Trust Fund 

3 and for distributing amounts from the Trust Fund 

4 pursuant to those claims; and 

5 ‘‘(2) providing guidance with respect to what 

6 constitutes an event for which amounts will be dis7 tributed from the Trust Fund. 

8 ‘‘(i) LIABILITY OF THE UNITED STATES LIMITED TO

9 AMOUNT IN TRUST FUND.— 

10 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any claim filed against the 

11 Marine Debris Response Trust Fund may be paid 

12 only out of the Trust Fund. 

13 ‘‘(2) ORDER IN WHICH UNPAID CLAIMS ARE TO

14 BE PAID.—If at any time the Marine Debris Re15 sponse Trust Fund has insufficient funds to pay all 

16 of the claims out of the Trust Fund at such time, 

17 such claims shall, to the extent permitted under 

18 paragraph (1), be paid in full in the order in which 

19 they were finally determined. 

20 ‘‘(j) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TRUST

21 FUND.— 

22 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A gift, award, devise, or 

23 bequest, and non-Federal amounts from legal judg24 ments or settlements may be accepted by the Marine 

25 Debris Response Trust Fund without regard to 


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1 whether the gift, devise, or bequest is encumbered, 

2 restricted, or subject to beneficial interests of private 

3 persons if any current or future interest in the gift, 

4 devise, or bequest is for the benefit of the Trust 

5 Fund. 

6 ‘‘(2) FOREIGN GIFTS.—Any gifts, awards, de7 vises, or bequests given to or received from a person 

8 in a foreign country by or to the Marine Debris Re9 sponse Trust Fund shall be made only with the con10 currence of the Secretary of State, in consultation, 

11 as appropriate, with the Administrator of the United 

12 States Agency for International Development.’’. 

13 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

14 for subchapter A of chapter 98 of such Code is amended 

15 by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘Sec. 9512. Marine Debris Response Trust Fund.’’. 

16 Subtitle B—Marine Debris 

17 Foundation 

18 SEC. 111. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES OF FOUNDA19 TION. 

20 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Ma21 rine Debris Foundation (in this subtitle referred to as the 

22 ‘‘Foundation’’). The Foundation is a charitable and non23 profit organization and is not an agency or establishment 

24 of the United States. 


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1 (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Foundation 

2 are— 

3 (1) to encourage, accept, and administer private 

4 gifts of property for the benefit of, or in connection 

5 with, the activities and services of the National Oce6 anic and Atmospheric Administration under the Ma7 rine Debris Program established under section 3 of 

8 the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952), and other 

9 relevant programs and agencies; 

10 (2) to undertake and conduct such other activi11 ties as will further the efforts of the National Oce12 anic and Atmospheric Administration to assess, pre13 vent, reduce, and remove marine debris and address 

14 the adverse impacts of marine debris on the economy 

15 of the United States, the marine environment, and 

16 navigation safety; 

17 (3) to participate with, and otherwise assist, 

18 State, local, and Tribal governments, foreign govern19 ments, entities, and individuals in undertaking and 

20 conducting activities to assess, prevent, reduce, and 

21 remove marine debris and address the adverse im22 pacts of marine debris and its root causes on the 

23 economy of the United States, the marine environ24 ment (including waters in the jurisdiction of the 

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1 risdiction of other countries), and navigation safety; 

2 and 

3 (4) to support other Federal actions to reduce 

4 marine debris. 

5 SEC. 112. BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOUNDATION. 

6 (a) ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Foundation shall have a 

8 governing Board of Directors (in this subtitle re9 ferred to as the ‘‘Board’’), which shall consist of the 

10 Under Secretary and 12 additional Directors ap11 pointed in accordance with subsection (b) from 

12 among individuals who are United States citizens. 

13 (2) REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSE POINTS OF

14 VIEW.—To the maximum extent practicable, the 

15 membership of the Board shall represent diverse 

16 points of view relating to the assessment, prevention, 

17 reduction, and removal of marine debris. 

18 (3) NOT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—Appointment 

19 as a Director of the Foundation shall not constitute 

20 employment by, or the holding of an office of, the 

21 United States for the purpose of any Federal law. 

22 (b) APPOINTMENT AND TERMS.— 

23 (1) APPOINTMENT.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

24 after consulting with the EPA Administrator, the 

25 Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 


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1 Service, the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bu2 reau of Oceans and International Environmental and 

3 Scientific Affairs, and the Administrator of the 

4 United States Agency for International Develop5 ment, and considering the recommendations sub6 mitted by the Board, the Under Secretary shall ap7 point 12 Directors who meet the criteria established 

8 by subsection (a), of whom— 

9 (A) at least 4 shall be educated or experi10 enced in the assessment, prevention, reduction, 

11 or removal of marine debris, which may include 

12 an individual with expertise in waste manage13 ment, recycling, reuse, or a circular economy; 

14 (B) at least 2 shall be educated or experi15 enced in the assessment, prevention, reduction, 

16 or removal of marine debris outside the United 

17 States; 

18 (C) at least 2 shall be educated or experi19 enced in ocean and coastal resource conserva20 tion science or policy; and 

21 (D) at least 2 shall be educated or experi22 enced in international trade or foreign policy. 

23 (2) TERMS.— 

24 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara25 graph (B), each Director (other than the Under 


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1 Secretary) shall be appointed for a term of 6 

2 years. 

3 (B) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS TO NEW MEM4 BER POSITIONS.—Of the Directors appointed by 

5 the Under Secretary under paragraph (1), the 

6 Secretary shall appoint, not later than 180 days 

7 after the date of the enactment of this Act— 

8 (i) four Directors for a term of 6 

9 years; 

10 (ii) four Directors for a term of 4 

11 years; and 

12 (iii) four Directors for a term of 2 

13 years. 

14 (3) VACANCIES.— 

15 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary 

16 shall fill a vacancy on the Board. 

17 (B) TERM OF APPOINTMENTS TO FILL UN18 EXPIRED TERMS.—An individual appointed to 

19 fill a vacancy that occurs before the expiration 

20 of the term of a Director shall be appointed for 

21 the remainder of the term. 

22 (4) REAPPOINTMENT.—An individual (other 

23 than an individual described in paragraph (1)) shall 

24 not serve more than 2 consecutive terms as a Direc25 tor, excluding any term of less than 6 years. 


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1 (5) REQUEST FOR REMOVAL.—The executive 

2 committee of the Board may submit to the Under 

3 Secretary a letter describing the nonperformance of 

4 a Director and requesting the removal of the Direc5 tor from the Board. 

6 (6) CONSULTATION BEFORE REMOVAL.—Before 

7 removing any Director from the Board, the Under 

8 Secretary shall consult with the Assistant Secretary 

9 of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International 

10 Environmental and Scientific Affairs, the Director of 

11 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the 

12 EPA Administrator. 

13 (c) CHAIRMAN.—The Chairman shall be elected by 

14 the Board from its members for a 2-year term. 

15 (d) QUORUM.—A majority of the current membership 

16 of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 

17 of business. 

18 (e) MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet at the call of 

19 the Chairman at least once a year. If a Director misses 

20 3 consecutive regularly scheduled meetings, that individual 

21 may be removed from the Board and that vacancy filled 

22 in accordance with subsection (b). 

23 (f) REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.—Members of 

24 the Board shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed 

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1 penses incurred by them in the performance of the duties 

2 of the Foundation. 

3 (g) GENERAL POWERS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Board may complete 

5 the organization of the Foundation by— 

6 (A) appointing officers and employees; 

7 (B) adopting a constitution and bylaws 

8 consistent with the purposes of the Foundation 

9 and the provisions of this subtitle; and 

10 (C) undertaking of other such acts as may 

11 be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 

12 subtitle. 

13 (2) LIMITATIONS ON APPOINTMENT.—The fol14 lowing limitations apply with respect to the appoint15 ment of officers and employees of the Foundation: 

16 (A) Officers and employees may not be ap17 pointed until the Foundation has sufficient 

18 funds to pay them for their service. Officers 

19 and employees of the Foundation shall be ap20 pointed without regard to the provisions of title 

21 5, United States Code, governing appointments 

22 in the competitive service, and may be paid 

23 without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 

24 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title 


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1 relating to classification and General Schedule 

2 pay rates. 

3 (B) The first officer or employee appointed 

4 by the Board shall be the Secretary of the 

5 Board who— 

6 (i) shall serve, at the direction of the 

7 Board, as its chief operating officer; and 

8 (ii) shall be knowledgeable and experi9 enced in matters relating to the assess10 ment, prevention, reduction, and removal 

11 of marine debris. 

12 SEC. 113. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE FOUNDATION. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Foundation— 

14 (1) shall have perpetual succession; 

15 (2) may conduct business throughout the sev16 eral States, territories, and possessions of the 

17 United States and abroad; 

18 (3) shall have its principal offices in the Dis19 trict of Columbia or in a county in the State of 

20 Maryland or Virginia that borders on the District of 

21 Columbia; and 

22 (4) shall at all times maintain a designated 

23 agent authorized to accept service of process for the 

24 Foundation. 


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1 (b) SERVICE OF PROCESS.—The serving of notice to, 

2 or service of process upon, the agent required under sub3 section (a)(4), or mailed to the business address of such 

4 agent, shall be deemed as service upon or notice to the 

5 Foundation. 

6 (c) SEAL.—The Foundation shall have an official seal 

7 selected by the Board which shall be judicially noticed. 

8 (d) POWERS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—To carry out its purposes 

10 under section 111, the Foundation shall have, in ad11 dition to the powers otherwise given it under this 

12 subtitle, the usual powers of a corporation acting as 

13 a trustee in the District of Columbia, including the 

14 power— 

15 (A) to accept, receive, solicit, hold, admin16 ister, and use any gift, devise, or bequest, either 

17 absolutely or in trust, of real or personal prop18 erty or any income therefrom or other interest 

19 therein; 

20 (B) to acquire by purchase or exchange 

21 any real or personal property or interest there22 in; 

23 (C) to invest any funds provided to the 

24 Foundation by the Federal Government in obli25 gations of the United States or in obligations or 


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1 securities that are guaranteed or insured by the 

2 United States; 

3 (D) to deposit any funds provided to the 

4 Foundation by the Federal Government into ac5 counts that are insured by an agency or instru6 mentality of the United States; 

7 (E) to make use of any interest or invest8 ment income that accrues as a consequence of 

9 actions taken under subparagraph (C) or (D) to 

10 carry out the purposes of the Foundation; 

11 (F) to use Federal funds to make pay12 ments under cooperative agreements to provide 

13 substantial long-term benefits for the assess14 ment, prevention, reduction, and removal of ma15 rine debris; 

16 (G) unless otherwise required by the in17 strument of transfer, to sell, donate, lease, in18 vest, reinvest, retain or otherwise dispose of any 

19 property or income therefrom; 

20 (H) to borrow money and issue bonds, de21 bentures, or other debt instruments; 

22 (I) to sue and be sued, and complain and 

23 defend itself in any court of competent jurisdic24 tion, except that the Directors of the FoundaVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:40 Jul 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1982.IS S1982

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1 tion shall not be personally liable, except for 

2 gross negligence; 

3 (J) to enter into contracts or other ar4 rangements with, or provide financial assistance 

5 to, public agencies and private organizations 

6 and persons and to make such payments as 

7 may be necessary to carry out its functions; and 

8 (K) to do any and all acts necessary and 

9 proper to carry out the purposes of the Founda10 tion. 

11 (2) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE

12 FUND.—A gift, devise, or bequest may be accepted 

13 by the Foundation without regard to whether the 

14 gift, devise, or bequest is encumbered, restricted, or 

15 subject to beneficial interests of private persons if 

16 any current or future interest in the gift, devise, or 

17 bequest is for the benefit of the Foundation. 

18 (e) NOTICE TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.—The 

19 Foundation may not make a grant of Federal funds in 

20 an amount greater than $100,000 unless, by not later 

21 than 15 days before the grant is made, the Foundation 

22 provides notice of the grant to the Member of Congress 

23 for the congressional district in which the project to be 

24 funded with the grant will be carried out. 


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1 (f) COORDINATION OF INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS.— 

2 Any efforts of the Foundation carried out in a foreign 

3 country, and any grants provided to an individual or entity 

4 in a foreign country, shall be made only with the concur5 rence of the Secretary of State, in consultation, as appro6 priate, with the Administrator of the United States Agen7 cy for International Development. 

8 (g) CONSULTATION WITH NOAA.—The Foundation 

9 shall consult with the Under Secretary during the plan10 ning of any restoration or remediation action using funds 

11 resulting from judgments or settlements relating to the 

12 damage to trust resources of the National Oceanic and 

13 Atmospheric Administration. 

14 SEC. 114. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND SUPPORT. 

15 (a) PROVISION OF SERVICES.—The Under Secretary 

16 may provide personnel, facilities, and other administrative 

17 services to the Foundation, including reimbursement of 

18 expenses, not to exceed the current Federal Government 

19 per diem rates, for a period of up to 5 years beginning 

20 on the date of the enactment of this Act. 

21 (b) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Foundation may reim22 burse the Under Secretary for any administrative service 

23 provided under subsection (a). The Under Secretary shall 

24 deposit any reimbursement received under this subsection 

25 into the Treasury to the credit of the appropriations then 


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1 current and chargeable for the cost of providing such serv2 ices. 

3 SEC. 115. VOLUNTEER STATUS. 

4 The Secretary of Commerce may accept, without re5 gard to the civil service classification laws, rules, or regu6 lations, the services of the Foundation, the Board, and 

7 the officers and employees of the Board, without com8 pensation from the Department of Commerce, as volun9 teers in the performance of the functions authorized in 

10 this subtitle. 

11 SEC. 116. REPORT REQUIREMENTS; PETITION OF ATTOR12 NEY GENERAL FOR EQUITABLE RELIEF. 

13 (a) REPORT.—The Foundation shall, as soon as prac14 ticable after the end of each fiscal year, transmit to the 

15 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

16 the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and 

17 the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 

18 of Representatives a report— 

19 (1) describing the proceedings and activities of 

20 the Foundation during that fiscal year, including a 

21 full and complete statement of its receipts, expendi22 tures, and investments; and 

23 (2) including a detailed statement of the recipi24 ent, amount, and purpose of each grant made by the 

25 Foundation in the fiscal year. 


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1 (b) RELIEF WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN FOUNDA2 TION ACTS OR FAILURE TO ACT.—If the Foundation— 

3 (1) engages in, or threatens to engage in, any 

4 act, practice, or policy that is inconsistent with its 

5 purposes set forth in section 111(b); or 

6 (2) refuses, fails, or neglects to discharge its 

7 obligations under this subtitle, or threatens to do so, 

8 the Attorney General may petition in the United States 

9 District Court for the District of Columbia for such equi10 table relief as may be necessary or appropriate. 

11 SEC. 117. UNITED STATES RELEASE FROM LIABILITY. 

12 The United States shall not be liable for any debts, 

13 defaults, acts, or omissions of the Foundation nor shall 

14 the full faith and credit of the United States extend to 

15 any obligation of the Foundation. 

16 SEC. 118. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

17 (a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 

19 appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce such 

20 sums as may be necessary to carry out this subtitle 

21 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2025. 

22 (2) USE OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS.—Subject to 

23 paragraph (3), amounts made available under para24 graph (1) shall be provided to the Foundation to 

25 match contributions (whether in currency, services, 


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1 or property) made to the Foundation, or to a recipi2 ent of a grant provided by the Foundation, by pri3 vate persons and State and local government agen4 cies. 

5 (3) PROHIBITION ON USE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE

6 EXPENSES.— 

7 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

8 subparagraph (B), no Federal funds made 

9 available under paragraph (1) may be used by 

10 the Foundation for administrative expenses of 

11 the Foundation, including for salaries, travel 

12 and transportation expenses, and other over13 head expenses. 

14 (B) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may 

15 allow the use of Federal funds made available 

16 under paragraph (1) to pay for salaries during 

17 the 18-month period beginning on the date of 

18 the enactment of this Act. 

19 (b) ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the amounts 

21 authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a), 

22 the Foundation may accept Federal funds from a 

23 Federal agency under any other Federal law for use 

24 by the Foundation to further the assessment, preVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:40 Jul 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1982.IS S1982

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1 vention, reduction, and removal of marine debris in 

2 accordance with the requirements of this subtitle. 

3 (2) USE OF FUNDS ACCEPTED FROM FEDERAL

4 AGENCIES.—Federal funds provided to the Founda5 tion under paragraph (1) shall be used by the Foun6 dation for matching, in whole or in part, contribu7 tions (whether in currency, services, or property) 

8 made to the Foundation by private persons and 

9 State and local government agencies. 

10 (c) PROHIBITION ON USE OF GRANT AMOUNTS FOR

11 LITIGATION AND LOBBYING EXPENSES.—Amounts pro12 vided as a grant by the Foundation shall not be used for— 

13 (1) any expense related to litigation consistent 

14 with Federal-wide cost principles; or 

15 (2) any activity the purpose of which is to influ16 ence legislation pending before Congress consistent 

17 with Federal-wide cost principles. 

18 Subtitle C—Genius Prize for Save 

19 Our Seas Innovations 

20 SEC. 121. DEFINITIONS. 

21 In this subtitle: 

22 (1) PRIZE COMPETITION.—The term ‘‘prize 

23 competition’’ means the competition for the award of 

24 the Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovations es25 tablished under section 122. 


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1 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

2 the Secretary of Commerce. 

3 SEC. 122. GENIUS PRIZE FOR SAVE OUR SEAS INNOVA4 TIONS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

6 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es7 tablish under section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech8 nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) a prize 

9 competition— 

10 (1) to encourage technological innovation with 

11 the potential to reduce plastic waste and thereby 

12 prevent marine debris; and 

13 (2) to award 1 or more prizes biennially for 

14 projects that advance human understanding and in15 novation in removing and preventing plastic waste, 

16 including— 

17 (A) advancements in materials used in 

18 packaging and other products that, if such 

19 products enter the coastal or ocean environ20 ment, will fully degrade without harming the 

21 environment, wildlife, or human health; 

22 (B) innovations in production and pack23 aging design that reduce the use of raw mate24 rials, increase recycled content, encourage 


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1 reusability and recyclability, and promote a cir2 cular economy; 

3 (C) improvements in marine debris detec4 tion, monitoring, and cleanup technologies and 

5 processes; 

6 (D) technological improvements or im7 proved strategies to increase solid waste collec8 tion, processing, sorting, recycling, reuse, or 

9 repurposing; and 

10 (E) new designs or strategies to reduce 

11 overall packaging needs. 

12 (b) DESIGNATION.—The prize competition estab13 lished under subsection (a) shall be known as the ‘‘Genius 

14 Prize for Save Our Seas Innovations’’. 

15 (c) PRIORITIZATION.—In selecting awards for the 

16 prize competition, priority shall be given to projects that— 

17 (1) have a strategy, submitted with the applica18 tion or proposal, to move the new technology, proc19 ess, design, material, or other product supported by 

20 the prize to market-scale deployment; 

21 (2) support the concept of a circular economy; 

22 and 

23 (3) promote development of materials that— 


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1 (A) can fully degrade in the ocean without 

2 harming the environment, wildlife, or human 

3 health; and 

4 (B) are to be used in fishing gear or other 

5 maritime products that have an increased likeli6 hood of entering the coastal or ocean environ7 ment as unintentional waste. 

8 SEC. 123. SAVE OUR SEAS INNOVATION STEERING COM9 MITTEE. 

10 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 

11 a steering committee, to be known as the ‘‘Save Our Seas 

12 Innovation Steering Committee’’ (in this subtitle referred 

13 as the ‘‘Committee’’) to provide expert advice and rec14 ommendations in the establishment of the prize competi15 tion, selection of awardees, and analysis of the successes 

16 of the prize competition. 

17 (b) DUTIES.—Subject to subsection (d), with respect 

18 to the prize competition, the Committee shall— 

19 (1) select a topic; 

20 (2) issue a problem statement; and 

21 (3) advise the Secretary on any opportunity for 

22 market-scale development of technological innovation 

23 to prevent marine plastic debris and promote the de24 velopment of materials that fully degrade in ocean 


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1 and coastal environments without harming the envi2 ronment, wildlife, or human health. 

3 (c) COMPETITION JUDGES.—A member of the Com4 mittee may serve as a judge for the prize competition 

5 under section 125. 

6 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE COST REDUCTION.—The Com7 mittee shall, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize 

8 the administrative costs of the Committee, including by 

9 encouraging remote participation to reduce travel costs. 

10 (e) CONSULTATION.—In selecting a topic and issuing 

11 a problem statement for the prize competition under sub12 paragraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1), respectively, 

13 the Committee shall consult widely with Federal and non14 Federal stakeholders, including— 

15 (1) 1 or more Federal agencies with jurisdiction 

16 over the prevention of marine debris or the pro17 motion of innovative materials; 

18 (2) 1 or more State agencies with jurisdiction 

19 over the prevention of marine debris or the pro20 motion of innovative materials; 

21 (3) 1 or more State, regional, or local conserva22 tion or waste management organizations, the mis23 sion of which relates to the prevention of marine de24 bris or the promotion of innovative materials; 


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1 (4) 1 or more conservation groups, technology 

2 companies, research institutions, institutions of high3 er education, industry associations, or individual 

4 stakeholders with an interest in the prevention of 

5 marine debris or the promotion of innovative mate6 rials; 

7 (5) 1 or more experts in the area of standards 

8 development regarding the degradation, breakdown, 

9 or recycling of polymers; and 

10 (6) experts in the following areas: 

11 (A) Polymer chemistry. 

12 (B) Wildlife conservation and management. 

13 (C) Marine biology or animal science. 

14 (D) Waste management. 

15 (E) Technology development. 

16 (F) Engineering. 

17 (G) Lifecycle assessment. 

18 (H) Economics. 

19 (I) Recycling. 

20 (J) Business development and manage21 ment. 

22 (K) Marine environmental chemistry. 

23 (L) Any other discipline that the Secretary 

24 determines to be necessary to achieve the pur25 poses of this subtitle. 


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1 (f) NONAPPLICABILITY OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY

2 COMMITTEE ACT.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Advisory Com4 mittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with re5 spect to the Committee. 

6 (2) APPLICABILITY OF FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

7 REQUIREMENTS.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 

8 section 208(b)(3) of title 18, United States Code, 

9 shall apply with respect to Government employees 

10 serving on the Committee. 

11 SEC. 124. AGREEMENT WITH THE MARINE DEBRIS FOUNDA12 TION. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall offer to enter 

14 into an agreement, which may include a grant or coopera15 tive agreement, under which the Marine Debris Founda16 tion established under subtitle B shall administer the prize 

17 competition. 

18 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—An agreement entered into 

19 under subsection (a) shall comply with the following re20 quirements: 

21 (1) DUTIES.—The Marine Debris Foundation 

22 shall— 

23 (A) advertise the prize competition; 

24 (B) solicit prize competition participants; 


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1 (C) administer funds relating to the prize 

2 competition; 

3 (D) receive Federal and non-Federal 

4 funds— 

5 (i) to administer the prize competi6 tion; and 

7 (ii) to award a cash prize; 

8 (E) carry out activities to generate con9 tributions of non-Federal funds to offset, in 

10 whole or in part— 

11 (i) the administrative costs of the 

12 prize competition; and 

13 (ii) the costs of a cash prize; 

14 (F) in consultation with, and subject to 

15 final approval by, the Secretary, develop criteria 

16 for the selection of prize competition winners; 

17 (G) provide advice and consultation to the 

18 Secretary on the selection of judges under sec19 tion 125 based on criteria developed in con20 sultation with, and subject to the final approval 

21 of, the Secretary; 

22 (H) announce 1 or more annual winners of 

23 the prize competition; 


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1 (I) subject to paragraph (2), award 1 or 

2 more cash prizes biennially of not less than 

3 $100,000; and 

4 (J) protect against unauthorized use or 

5 disclosure by the Marine Debris Foundation of 

6 any trade secret or confidential business infor7 mation of a prize competition participant. 

8 (2) ADDITIONAL CASH PRIZES.—The Marine 

9 Debris Foundation may award more than 1 cash 

10 prize in a year— 

11 (A) if the initial cash prize referred to in 

12 paragraph (1)(I) and any additional cash prizes 

13 are awarded using only non-Federal funds; and 

14 (B) consisting of an amount determined by 

15 the Under Secretary after the Secretary is noti16 fied by the Marine Debris Foundation that non17 Federal funds are available for an additional 

18 cash prize. 

19 (3) SOLICITATION OF FUNDS.—The Marine De20 bris Foundation— 

21 (A) may request and accept Federal funds 

22 and non-Federal funds for a cash prize or ad23 ministration of the prize competition; 


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1 (B) may accept a contribution for a cash 

2 prize in exchange for the right to name the 

3 prize; and 

4 (C) shall not give special consideration to 

5 any Federal agency or non-Federal entity in ex6 change for a donation for a cash prize awarded 

7 under this section. 

8 SEC. 125. JUDGES. 

9 (a) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary shall appoint not 

10 fewer than 3 judges who shall, except as provided in sub11 section (b), select the 1 or more annual winners of the 

12 prize competition. 

13 (b) DETERMINATION BY THE SECRETARY.—The 

14 judges appointed under subsection (a) shall not select any 

15 annual winner of the prize competition if the Secretary 

16 makes a determination that, in any fiscal year, none of 

17 the technological advancements entered into the prize 

18 competition merits an award. 

19 SEC. 126. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

20 Not later than 60 days after the date on which a cash 

21 prize is awarded under this subtitle, the Secretary shall 

22 submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

23 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Nat24 ural Resources of the House of Representatives a report 

25 on the prize competition that includes— 


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1 (1) a statement by the Committee that de2 scribes the activities carried out by the Committee 

3 relating to the duties described in section 123; 

4 (2) if the Secretary has entered into an agree5 ment under section 124, a statement by the Marine 

6 Debris Foundation that describes the activities car7 ried out by the Marine Debris Foundation relating 

8 to the duties described in section 123; and 

9 (3) a statement by 1 or more of the judges ap10 pointed under section 125 that explains the basis on 

11 which the winner of the cash prize was selected. 

12 SEC. 127. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

13 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be ap14 propriated such sums as may be necessary for expenses, 

15 including administrative expenses, relating to the prize 

16 competition. 

17 (b) REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.—Members of 

18 the Committee and judges appointed under section 125 

19 shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed for the 

20 actual and necessary traveling and subsistence expenses. 

21 SEC. 128. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY. 

22 The prize program will terminate after 5 prize com23 petition cycles have been completed. 


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1 Subtitle D—Other Measures Relat2 ing to Combating Marine Debris 

3 SEC. 131. PRIORITIZATION OF MARINE DEBRIS IN EXISTING 

4 INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PRO5 GRAMS. 

6 The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, 

7 the EPA Administrator, and the heads of other relevant 

8 Federal agencies, shall prioritize efforts to combat marine 

9 debris in innovation and entrepreneurship programs estab10 lished before the date of the enactment of this Act, includ11 ing by using such programs to increase innovation in and 

12 the effectiveness of waste management, monitoring, detec13 tion, data-sharing related to the prevalence and location 

14 of marine debris, demand for recycled content, alternative 

15 uses for plastic waste, product design, reduction of dispos16 able plastic consumer products and packaging, ocean bio17 degradable materials development, waste prevention, and 

18 cleanup. 

19 SEC. 132. EXPANSION OF DERELICT VESSEL RECYCLING. 

20 Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 

21 of this Act, the Under Secretary and the EPA Adminis22 trator shall jointly conduct a study to determine the feasi23 bility of developing a nationwide derelict vessel recycling 

24 program— 


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1 (1) using as a model the fiberglass boat recy2 cling program from the pilot project in Rhode Island 

3 led by Rhode Island Sea Grant and its partners; and 

4 (2) including, if possible, recycling of vessels 

5 made from materials other than fiberglass. 

6 SEC. 133. INCENTIVE FOR FISHERMEN TO COLLECT AND 

7 DISPOSE OF PLASTIC FOUND AT SEA. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall estab9 lish a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advis10 ability of providing incentives, such as grants, to fisher11 men based in the United States who incidentally capture 

12 marine debris while at sea— 

13 (1) to track or keep the debris on board; and 

14 (2) to dispose of the debris properly on land. 

15 (b) SUPPORT FOR COLLECTION AND REMOVAL OF

16 DERELICT GEAR.—The Under Secretary shall encourage 

17 United States efforts, such as the Fishing for Energy net 

18 disposal program, that support— 

19 (1) collection and removal of derelict fishing 

20 gear and other fishing waste; 

21 (2) disposal or recycling of such gear and 

22 waste; and 

23 (3) prevention of the loss of such gear. 


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1 SEC. 134. AMENDMENTS TO MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM. 

2 (a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 

3 9(a) of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1958(a)) is 

4 amended by— 

5 (1) striking ‘‘$10,000,000’’ and inserting 

6 ‘‘$15,000,000’’; and 

7 (2) striking ‘‘5 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘7 per8 cent’’. 

9 (b) ENHANCEMENT OF PURPOSE.—Section 2 of the 

10 Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1951) is amended by strik11 ing ‘‘marine environment,’’ and inserting ‘‘marine environ12 ment (including waters in the jurisdiction of the United 

13 States, the high seas, and waters in the jurisdiction of 

14 other countries),’’. 

15 (c) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—Section 3(d)(2) of 

16 the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952(d)(2)) is amend17 ed— 

18 (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘the 

19 matching requirement under subparagraph (A)’’ and 

20 inserting ‘‘a matching requirement under subpara21 graph (A) or (C)’’; and 

22 (2) in subparagraph (C), in the matter pre23 ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding sub24 paragraph (A)’’ and inserting ‘‘Notwithstanding sub25 paragraph (A) and except as provided in subpara26 graph (B)’’. 


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1 SEC. 135. MARINE DEBRIS ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM 

2 LAND. 

3 (a) SPECIAL-USE AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary 

4 of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec5 retary’’) shall not require a volunteer organization to ob6 tain a special-use authorization for the removal of any ma7 rine debris being stored on National Forest System land. 

8 (b) TEMPORARY STORAGE.—Marine debris may be 

9 stored on National Forest System land in a location deter10 mined by the Secretary for not more than 60 days. 

11 (c) REQUIREMENTS.—Except as otherwise provided 

12 in this section, any activities related to the removal of ma13 rine debris from National Forest System land shall be con14 ducted in a manner consistent with applicable law and reg15 ulations and subject to such reasonable terms and condi16 tions as the Secretary may require. 

17 Subtitle E—Studies and Reports 

18 SEC. 141. REPORT ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATIVE 

19 USES OF PLASTIC WASTE. 

20 Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact21 ment of this Act, the Marine Debris Coordinating Com22 mittee established under section 5 of the Marine Debris 

23 Act (33 U.S.C. 1954) (in this subtitle referred to as the 

24 ‘‘Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee’’) 

25 shall submit to Congress a report on innovative uses for 

26 plastic waste other than in infrastructure. 


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1 SEC. 142. REPORT ON MICROFIBER POLLUTION. 

2 Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact3 ment of this Act, the Interagency Marine Debris Coordi4 nating Committee shall submit to Congress a report on 

5 microfiber pollution that includes— 

6 (1) a definition for ‘‘microfiber’’; 

7 (2) an assessment of the sources, prevalence, 

8 and causes of microfiber pollution; 

9 (3) a recommendation for a standardized meth10 odology to measure and estimate the prevalence of 

11 microfiber pollution; 

12 (4) recommendations for reducing microfiber 

13 pollution; and 

14 (5) a plan for how Federal agencies, in partner15 ship with other stakeholders, can lead on opportuni16 ties to reduce microfiber pollution during the 5-year 

17 period beginning on such date of enactment. 

18 SEC. 143. STUDY ON UNITED STATES PLASTIC POLLUTION 

19 DATA. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in consulta21 tion with the EPA Administrator, shall seek to enter into 

22 an arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences, 

23 Engineering, and Medicine under which the National 

24 Academies will undertake a multifaceted study that in25 cludes the following: 


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1 (1) An evaluation of United States contribu2 tions to global ocean plastic waste, including types, 

3 sources, and geographic variations. 

4 (2) An assessment of the prevalence of marine 

5 debris and mismanaged plastic waste in saltwater 

6 and freshwater United States waterways. 

7 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 

8 date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 

9 shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted 

10 under subsection (a) that includes— 

11 (1) the findings of the National Academies; 

12 (2) recommendations on knowledge gaps that 

13 warrant further scientific inquiry; and 

14 (3) recommendations on the potential value of 

15 a national marine debris tracking and monitoring 

16 system and how such a system might be designed 

17 and implemented. 

18 SEC. 144. REPORT ON MINIMIZING THE CREATION OF NEW 

19 PLASTIC WASTE. 

20 Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact21 ment of this Act, the Interagency Marine Debris Coordi22 nating Committee shall submit to Congress a report on 

23 minimizing the creation of new plastic waste. 


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1 SEC. 145. STUDY ON MASS BALANCE METHODOLOGIES TO 

2 CERTIFY CIRCULAR POLYMERS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The National Institute of Stand4 ards and Technology shall conduct a study of available 

5 mass balance methodologies that are or could be readily 

6 standardized to certify circular polymers. 

7 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

8 of enactment of this Act, the Institute shall submit to Con9 gress a report on the study conducted under subsection 

10 (a) that includes— 

11 (1) an identification and assessment of existing 

12 mass balance methodologies, standards, and certifi13 cation systems that are or may be applicable to sup14 ply chain sustainability of polymers, considering the 

15 full life cycle of the polymer, and including an exam16 ination of— 

17 (A) the International Sustainability and 

18 Carbon Certification; and 

19 (B) the Roundtable on Sustainable Bio20 materials; and 

21 (2) an assessment of any legal or regulatory 

22 barriers to developing a standard and certification 

23 system for circular polymers. 

24 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

25 (1) CIRCULAR POLYMERS.—The term ‘‘circular 

26 polymers’’ means polymers that can be reused mulVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:40 Jul 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1982.IS S1982

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1 tiple times or converted into a new, higher-quality 

2 product. 

3 (2) MASS BALANCE METHODOLOGY.—The term 

4 ‘‘mass balance methodology’’ means the method of 

5 chain of custody accounting designed to track the 

6 exact total amount of certain content in products or 

7 materials through the production system and to en8 sure an appropriate allocation of this content in the 

9 finished goods based on auditable bookkeeping. 

10 TITLE II—ENHANCED GLOBAL 

11 ENGAGEMENT TO COMBAT 

12 MARINE DEBRIS 

13 SEC. 201. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON INTERNATIONAL CO14 OPERATION TO COMBAT MARINE DEBRIS. 

15 It is the policy of the United States to partner, con16 sult, and coordinate with foreign governments (at the na17 tional and subnational levels), civil society, international 

18 organizations, international financial institutions, sub19 national coastal communities, commercial and recreational 

20 fishing industry leaders, and the private sector, in a con21 certed effort— 

22 (1) to increase knowledge and raise awareness 

23 about— 


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1 (A) the linkages between the sources of 

2 plastic waste, mismanaged waste, and marine 

3 debris; and 

4 (B) the upstream and downstream causes 

5 and effects of plastic waste, mismanaged waste, 

6 and marine debris on marine environments, ma7 rine wildlife, human health, and economic devel8 opment; 

9 (2) to support— 

10 (A) strengthening systems for recovering, 

11 managing, reusing (to the extent practicable), 

12 and recycling plastic waste, marine debris, and 

13 microfiber pollution in the world’s oceans, em14 phasizing upstream waste management solu15 tions— 

16 (i) to mitigate plastic waste at its 

17 source; and 

18 (ii) to prevent leakage of plastic waste 

19 into the environment; 

20 (B) advancing the utilization and avail21 ability of safe and affordable reusable alter22 natives to disposable plastic products in com23 merce, to the extent practicable, and with con24 sideration for the potential impacts of such alVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:40 Jul 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1982.IS S1982

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1 ternatives, and other efforts to prevent marine 

2 debris; 

3 (C) deployment of and access to advanced 

4 technologies to capture value from municipal 

5 solid waste streams through mechanical and 

6 other recycling systems; 

7 (D) access to information on best practices 

8 in waste management, options for waste system 

9 financing, and options for participating in pub10 lic-private partnerships; and 

11 (E) implementation of management meas12 ures to reduce derelict fishing gear, the loss of 

13 fishing gear, and other sources of pollution gen14 erated from marine activities and to increase 

15 proper disposal and recycling of fishing gear; 

16 and 

17 (3) to work cooperatively with international 

18 partners— 

19 (A) on establishing— 

20 (i) measurable targets for reducing 

21 marine debris, lost fishing gear, and plastic 

22 waste from all sources; and 

23 (ii) action plans to achieve those tar24 gets with a mechanism to provide regular 

25 reporting; 


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1 (B) to promote consumer education, 

2 awareness, and outreach to prevent marine de3 bris; 

4 (C) to reduce marine debris by improving 

5 advance planning for marine debris events and 

6 responses to such events; and 

7 (D) to share best practices in waste man8 agement systems to prevent the entry of plastic 

9 waste into the environment. 

10 SEC. 202. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE 

11 TO COMBAT MARINE DEBRIS AND IMPROVE 

12 PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall, in 

14 coordination with the Administrator of the United States 

15 Agency for International Development, as appropriate, 

16 and the officials specified in subsection (b)— 

17 (1) lead and coordinate efforts to implement the 

18 policy described in section 201; and 

19 (2) develop strategies and implement programs 

20 that prioritize engagement and cooperation with for21 eign governments, subnational and local stake22 holders, and the private sector to expedite efforts 

23 and assistance in foreign countries— 

24 (A) to partner with, encourage, advise and 

25 facilitate national and subnational governments 


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1 on the development and execution, where prac2 ticable, of national projects, programs and ini3 tiatives to— 

4 (i) improve the capacity, security, and 

5 standards of operations of waste manage6 ment systems; 

7 (ii) monitor and track how well waste 

8 management systems are functioning na9 tionwide, based on uniform and trans10 parent standards developed in cooperation 

11 with municipal, industrial, and civil society 

12 stakeholders; 

13 (iii) identify waste management sys14 tems’ operational challenges and develop 

15 policy and programmatic solutions; 

16 (iv) end intentional or unintentional 

17 incentives for municipalities, industries, 

18 and individuals to improperly dispose of 

19 plastic waste; and 

20 (v) conduct outreach campaigns to 

21 raise public awareness of the importance of 

22 proper waste disposal; 

23 (B) to facilitate the involvement of munici24 palities and industries in improving solid waste 


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1 reduction, collection, disposal, and reuse and re2 cycling projects, programs, and initiatives; 

3 (C) to partner with and provide technical 

4 assistance to investors, and national and local 

5 institutions, including private sector actors, to 

6 develop new business opportunities and solu7 tions to specifically reduce plastic waste and ex8 pand solid waste management best practices 

9 and waste collection services in foreign coun10 tries by— 

11 (i) maximizing the number of people 

12 and businesses, in both rural and urban 

13 communities, receiving reliable solid waste 

14 management services and using safe and 

15 responsible practices for properly dis16 posing, including recycling or reusing 

17 waste materials; 

18 (ii) improving and expanding the ca19 pacity of foreign industries to responsibly 

20 manage waste; 

21 (iii) improving and expanding the ca22 pacity and transparency of tracking mech23 anisms for marine debris to reduce the im24 pacts on the marine environment; 


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1 (iv) eliminating incentives that under2 mine responsible waste management prac3 tices and lead to improper waste disposal 

4 practices and leakage; 

5 (v) building the capacity of coun6 tries— 

7 (I) to monitor, regulate, and 

8 manage waste, plastic waste, and pol9 lution appropriately and trans10 parently; 

11 (II) to encourage private invest12 ment in waste management, including 

13 collection services and responsible and 

14 beneficial reuse of plastic waste prod15 ucts; and 

16 (III) to encourage private invest17 ment, grow opportunities, and develop 

18 markets for recyclable, reusable, and 

19 repurposed plastic waste materials, 

20 and products with high levels of recy21 cled plastic content, at both national 

22 and local levels; and 

23 (vi) promoting safe and affordable re24 usable alternatives to disposable plastic 

25 products, to the extent practicable; and 


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1 (D) to research, identify, and facilitate op2 portunities to promote collection and proper 

3 disposal of damaged or derelict fishing gear. 

4 (b) OFFICIALS SPECIFIED.—The officials specified in 

5 this subsection are the following: 

6 (1) The United States Trade Representative. 

7 (2) The Under Secretary. 

8 (3) The EPA Administrator. 

9 (4) The Director of the Trade and Development 

10 Agency. 

11 (5) The President and the Board of Directors 

12 of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation or 

13 the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Direc14 tors of the United States International Development 

15 Finance Corporation, as appropriate. 

16 (6) The Chief Executive Officer and the Board 

17 of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corpora18 tion. 

19 (7) The heads of such other agencies as the 

20 Secretary of State considers appropriate. 

21 (c) PRIORITIZATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 

22 the officials specified in subsection (b) shall prioritize as23 sistance to countries with— 

24 (1) rapidly developing economies; and 


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1 (2) rivers and coastal areas that are the most 

2 severe sources of marine debris. 

3 (d) EFFECTIVENESS MEASUREMENT.—In 

4 prioritizing and expediting efforts and assistance under 

5 this section, the officials specified in subsection (b) shall 

6 use clear, accountable, and metric-based targets to meas7 ure the effectiveness of guarantees and assistance in 

8 achieving the policy described in section 201. 

9 (e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec10 tion may be construed to authorize the modification of or 

11 the imposition of limits on the portfolios of any agency 

12 or institution led by an official specified in subsection (b). 

13 SEC. 203. UNITED STATES LEADERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL 

14 FORA. 

15 In implementing the policy described in section 201, 

16 the President shall direct the United States representa17 tives to appropriate international bodies and conferences 

18 (such as the United Nations Environment Programme, 

19 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia Pa20 cific Economic Cooperation, the Group of 7, the Group 

21 of 20, and the Our Ocean Conference) to use the voice, 

22 vote, and influence of the United States, consistent with 

23 the broad foreign policy goals of the United States, to ad24 vocate that each such body— 


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1 (1) commit to significantly increasing efforts to 

2 promote investment in well-designed waste manage3 ment and plastic waste elimination and mitigation 

4 projects and services that increase access to safe 

5 waste management and mitigation services, in part6 nership with the private sector and consistent with 

7 the constraints of other countries; 

8 (2) address the waste management needs of in9 dividuals and communities where access to municipal 

10 waste management services is historically impractical 

11 or cost-prohibitive; 

12 (3) enhance coordination with the private sec13 tor— 

14 (A) to increase access to solid waste man15 agement services; 

16 (B) to utilize safe and affordable reusable 

17 alternatives to disposable plastic products, to 

18 the extent practicable; 

19 (C) to encourage and incentivize the use of 

20 recycled content; and 

21 (D) to grow economic opportunities and 

22 develop markets for recyclable, reusable, and 

23 repurposed plastic waste materials and other ef24 forts that support the circular economy; 


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1 (4) provide technical assistance to foreign regu2 latory authorities and governments to remove unnec3 essary barriers to investment in otherwise commer4 cially-viable projects related to— 

5 (A) waste management including recycling; 

6 (B) the use of safe and affordable reusable 

7 alternatives to disposable plastic products, to 

8 the extent practicable; or 

9 (C) beneficial reuse of solid waste, plastic 

10 waste, plastic products, and refuse; 

11 (5) use clear, accountable, and metric-based 

12 targets to measure the effectiveness of such projects; 

13 and 

14 (6) engage international partners in an existing 

15 multilateral forum (or, if necessary, establish 

16 through an international agreement a new multilat17 eral forum) to improve global cooperation on— 

18 (A) creating tangible metrics for evaluating 

19 efforts to reduce plastic waste and marine de20 bris; 

21 (B) developing and implementing best 

22 practices for collecting, disposing, recycling, and 

23 reusing plastic waste, including building capac24 ity for improving waste management at the na25 tional and subnational levels of foreign counVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:40 Jul 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1982.IS S1982

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1 tries, particularly countries with little to no 

2 solid waste management systems, facilities, or 

3 policies in place; 

4 (C) encouraging the development of stand5 ards and practices, and increasing recycled con6 tent percentage requirements for disposable 

7 plastic products; 

8 (D) integrating tracking and monitoring 

9 systems into waste management systems; 

10 (E) fostering research to improve scientific 

11 understanding of— 

12 (i) how microfibers and microplastics 

13 may affect marine ecosystems, human 

14 health and safety, and maritime activities; 

15 (ii) changes in the amount and re16 gional concentrations of plastic waste in 

17 the ocean, based on scientific modeling and 

18 forecasting; 

19 (iii) the role rivers, streams, and other 

20 inland waterways play in serving as con21 duits for mismanaged waste traveling from 

22 land to the ocean; 

23 (iv) effective means to eliminate 

24 present and future leakages of plastic 

25 waste into the environment; and 


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1 (v) other related areas of research the 

2 United States representatives deem nec3 essary; 

4 (F) encouraging the World Bank and other 

5 international finance organizations to prioritize 

6 efforts to combat marine debris; 

7 (G) collaborating on technological advances 

8 in waste management and recycled plastics; 

9 (H) growing economic opportunities and 

10 developing markets for recyclable, reusable, and 

11 repurposed plastic waste materials and other ef12 forts that support the circular economy; and 

13 (I) advising foreign countries, at both the 

14 national and subnational levels, on the develop15 ment and execution of regulatory policies, serv16 ices, including recycling and reuse of plastic, 

17 and laws pertaining to reducing the creation 

18 and the collection and safe management of— 

19 (i) solid waste; 

20 (ii) plastic waste; and 

21 (iii) marine debris. 


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1 SEC. 204. ENHANCING INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH AND 

2 PARTNERSHIP OF UNITED STATES AGENCIES 

3 INVOLVED IN MARINE DEBRIS ACTIVITIES. 

4 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress recognizes the success of 

5 the marine debris program of the National Oceanic and 

6 Atmospheric Administration and the Trash-Free Waters 

7 program of the Environmental Protection Agency. 

8 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF EFFORTS TO BUILD FOR9 EIGN PARTNERSHIPS.—The Under Secretary and the 

10 EPA Administrator shall work with the Secretary of State 

11 and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 

12 International Development to build partnerships, as ap13 propriate, with the governments of foreign countries and 

14 to support international efforts to combat marine debris. 

15 SEC. 205. NEGOTIATION OF NEW INTERNATIONAL AGREE16 MENTS. 

17 Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 

18 of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to Con19 gress a report— 

20 (1) assessing the potential for negotiating new 

21 international agreements or creating a new inter22 national forum to reduce land-based sources of ma23 rine debris and derelict fishing gear, consistent with 

24 section 203; 

25 (2) describing the provisions that could be in26 cluded in such agreements; and 


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1 (3) assessing potential parties to such agree2 ments. 

3 SEC. 206. CONSIDERATION OF MARINE DEBRIS IN NEGOTI4 ATING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS. 

5 In negotiating any relevant international agreement 

6 with any country or countries after the date of the enact7 ment of this Act, the President shall, as appropriate— 

8 (1) consider the impact of land-based sources of 

9 plastic waste and other solid waste from that coun10 try on the marine and aquatic environment; and 

11 (2) ensure that the agreement strengthens ef12 forts to eliminate land-based sources of plastic waste 

13 and other solid waste from that country that impact 

14 the marine and aquatic environment. 

15 TITLE III—IMPROVING DOMES16 TIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO 

17 PREVENT MARINE DEBRIS 

18 SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 

19 In this title: 

20 (1) INTENDED USE PLAN.—The term ‘‘intended 

21 use plan’’ means a plan developed by a State under 

22 section 303(c)(1). 

23 (2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 

24 (A) a State; 

25 (B) an Indian Tribe; 


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1 (C) the District of Columbia; and 

2 (D) a territory or possession of the United 

3 States. 

4 (3) STATE LOAN FUND.—The term ‘‘State loan 

5 fund’’ means a waste management revolving loan 

6 fund established by a State under section 

7 303(a)(2)(B). 

8 (4) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

9 has the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ in 

10 section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu11 cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

12 SEC. 302. STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING WASTE MANAGE13 MENT, RECYCLING, AND WATER MANAGE14 MENT. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

16 date of enactment of this Act, the EPA Administrator 

17 shall, in consultation with stakeholders, develop a strategy 

18 to improve waste management and recycling infrastruc19 ture, particularly for waste management and recycling in20 frastructure systems not meeting national standards 

21 under subtitle D of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 

22 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.) and other waste standards, for the 

23 purpose of reducing potential leakage of plastic waste and 

24 other solid waste into waterways and oceans. 


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1 (b) RELEASE.—On development of the strategy 

2 under subsection (a), the EPA Administrator shall— 

3 (1) distribute the strategy to States and units 

4 of local government; and 

5 (2) make the strategy publicly available for use 

6 by— 

7 (A) for-profit private waste management 

8 and recycling entities; and 

9 (B) other nongovernmental entities. 

10 (c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con11 gress that the strategy under subsection (a) should include 

12 guidance, for the purpose of reducing potential leakage of 

13 plastic waste and other solid waste into waterways and 

14 oceans, relating to— 

15 (1) the harmonization of waste collection proto16 cols; 

17 (2) the harmonization of recycling protocols for 

18 municipal recycling programs, including— 

19 (A) best practices for the collection of resi20 dential recyclables; 

21 (B) improved quality and sorting of recy22 clable materials through opportunities such 

23 as— 

24 (i) education and awareness pro25 grams; 


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1 (ii) improved infrastructure, including 

2 new equipment and innovative technologies 

3 for processing of recyclable materials; 

4 (iii) enhanced markets for recycled 

5 material; and 

6 (iv) standardized measurements; and 

7 (C) increasing capacity for more types of 

8 plastic (including plastic films) and other mate9 rials to be collected, processed, and recycled or 

10 repurposed into usable materials or products; 

11 (3) the development of new strategies and pro12 grams that prioritize engagement and cooperation 

13 with States and the private sector to expedite efforts 

14 and assistance in States to partner with, encourage, 

15 advise, and facilitate the development and execution, 

16 where practicable, of projects, programs, and initia17 tives— 

18 (A) to improve the capacity, security, and 

19 standards of operations of waste management 

20 systems; 

21 (B) to monitor and track how well waste 

22 management systems are functioning, based on 

23 uniform and transparent standards developed in 

24 cooperation with municipal, industrial, Federal, 

25 and civil society stakeholders; 


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1 (C)(i) to identify the operational challenges 

2 of waste management systems; and 

3 (ii) to develop policy and programmatic so4 lutions to those challenges; and 

5 (D) to end intentional and unintentional 

6 incentives for municipalities, industries, and in7 dividuals to improperly dispose of municipal 

8 solid waste; and 

9 (4) strengthening markets for products with 

10 high levels of recycled plastic content. 

11 (d) COMPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES.—It is the sense of 

12 Congress that the strategy developed under subsection (a) 

13 should include guidance on activities that are complemen14 tary to the activities described in subsection (c), such as— 

15 (1) reducing waste at the source of the waste, 

16 including anti-litter initiatives; 

17 (2) developing effective trash provisions for— 

18 (A) national pollutant discharge elimi19 nation system permits issued to municipal sepa20 rate storm sewer systems under section 402 of 

21 the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 

22 U.S.C. 1342); and 

23 (B) stormwater management plans; 

24 (3) capturing trash at stormwater inlets, 

25 stormwater outfalls, or in bodies of water; 


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1 (4) providing education and outreach relating to 

2 trash movement and reduction; and 

3 (5) monitoring or modeling waste flows and the 

4 reduction of waste resulting from the implementa5 tion of best management practices. 

6 SEC. 303. WASTE MANAGEMENT STATE REVOLVING FUNDS. 

7 (a) BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES TO ESTABLISH LOAN

8 FUNDS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator 

10 shall offer to enter into agreements with eligible 

11 States to make capitalization block grants, including 

12 letters of credit, to the States under this sub13 section— 

14 (A) to support improvements to local waste 

15 management systems, including traditional and 

16 innovative recycling and reuse technologies; 

17 (B) to assist local waste management au18 thorities in making improvements to local waste 

19 management systems— 

20 (i) to meet waste management stand21 ards under subtitle D of the Solid Waste 

22 Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 et seq.), 

23 particularly with respect to systems falling 

24 significantly below national standards 


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1 under that subtitle, as determined by the 

2 EPA Administrator; and 

3 (ii) to implement the strategy devel4 oped under section 302(a); 

5 (C) to deploy waste interceptor tech6 nologies, such as ‘‘trash wheels’’ and litter 

7 traps, to manage the collection and cleanup of 

8 aggregated waste from waterways; and 

9 (D) for such other purposes as the EPA 

10 Administrator determines to be appropriate. 

11 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a 

12 capitalization block grant under this subsection, a 

13 State shall— 

14 (A) enter into a capitalization agreement 

15 with the EPA Administrator under paragraph 

16 (1); and 

17 (B) establish a waste management revolv18 ing State loan fund. 

19 (3) DEPOSIT.—Funds from a capitalization 

20 block grant to a State under this subsection shall be 

21 deposited in the State loan fund established by the 

22 State. 

23 (4) PERIOD.—Funds from a capitalization block 

24 grant to a State under this subsection shall be avail25 able to the State for obligation— 


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1 (A) during the fiscal year for which the 

2 funds are authorized; and 

3 (B) during the following fiscal year. 

4 (5) ALLOTMENT.—Funds made available to 

5 carry out this section shall be allotted to States at 

6 the discretion of the EPA Administrator. 

7 (6) REALLOTMENT.—Any funds not obligated 

8 by a State by the last day of the period for which 

9 the block grants are available shall be reallotted in 

10 accordance with paragraph (5). 

11 (b) USE OF FUNDS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Amounts deposited in a 

13 State loan fund, including loan repayments and in14 terest earned on the amounts, shall be used only— 

15 (A) for providing loans or loan guarantees; 

16 (B) for outcomes-based or performance 

17 payments; or 

18 (C) as a source of reserve and security for 

19 leveraged loans. 

20 (2) LIMITATIONS.—Loans or loan guarantees 

21 made by a State under paragraph (1)(A)— 

22 (A) may be used only for expenditures of 

23 a type or category that the EPA Administrator 

24 has determined, through guidance, will— 


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1 (i) facilitate compliance with an in2 tended use plan; or 

3 (ii) otherwise significantly further the 

4 purposes described in subparagraphs (A) 

5 through (C) of subsection (a)(1); and 

6 (B) may not be used for the acquisition of 

7 real property or an interest in real property, 

8 unless the acquisition is— 

9 (i) integral to an intended use plan; 

10 and 

11 (ii) from a willing seller. 

12 (c) INTENDED USE PLANS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—After providing for public 

14 review and comment, each State that has entered 

15 into a capitalization agreement under subsection 

16 (a)(1) annually shall prepare a plan that identifies 

17 the intended uses of the amounts available from the 

18 State loan fund of the State. 

19 (2) CONTENTS.—An intended use plan shall in20 clude— 

21 (A) a list of the projects to be carried out 

22 by entities receiving the loans in the first fiscal 

23 year that begins after the date of the intended 

24 use plan, including a description of the project; 


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1 (B) a description of how the funds will 

2 support disadvantaged communities; 

3 (C) the criteria and methods established 

4 for the use of the funds; and 

5 (D) a description of the financial status of 

6 the State loan fund and the short- and long7 term goals of the State loan fund. 

8 (3) LIST OF PROJECTS.—Each State, after no9 tice and opportunity for public comment, shall pub10 lish, and periodically update, a list of projects in the 

11 State that are eligible for assistance under this sec12 tion, including— 

13 (A) the priority assigned to each project; 

14 and 

15 (B) to the maximum extent practicable, 

16 the expected funding schedule for each project. 

17 (d) FUND MANAGEMENT.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each State loan fund shall 

19 be established, maintained, and credited with repay20 ments and interest, and the fund corpus shall be 

21 available in perpetuity in accordance with this sec22 tion. 

23 (2) INVESTMENT AUTHORIZED.—To the extent 

24 amounts in the State loan fund of a State are not 

25 required for current obligation or expenditure, the 


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1 amounts shall be invested in interest bearing obliga2 tions. 

3 (e) STATE CONTRIBUTIONS.—Each capitalization 

4 agreement entered into under subsection (a)(1) shall re5 quire that the State deposit in the State loan fund from 

6 State funds an amount equal to not less than 20 percent 

7 of the total amount of the block grant to be made to the 

8 State on or before the date on which the block grant pay9 ment is made to the State. 

10 (f) ADMINISTRATION OF STATE LOAN FUND.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each State annually may 

12 use not greater than 4 percent of the funds allotted 

13 to the State under this section to cover the reason14 able costs of administration of the programs under 

15 this section, including the recovery of reasonable 

16 costs expended to establish a State loan fund that 

17 are incurred after the date of enactment of this Act. 

18 (2) GUIDANCE AND REGULATIONS.—The EPA 

19 Administrator shall issue guidance and promulgate 

20 regulations as are necessary to carry out this sec21 tion, including guidance and regulations— 

22 (A) to ensure that each State commits and 

23 expends funds allotted to the State under this 

24 section as efficiently as practicable in accord25 ance with this section and applicable State law; 


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1 (B) to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse; 

2 and 

3 (C) to ensure that the States receiving 

4 block grants under this section use accounting, 

5 audit, and fiscal procedures that conform to 

6 generally accepted accounting standards. 

7 (3) STATE REPORT.—Not less frequently than 

8 every 2 years, each State administering a State loan 

9 fund under this section shall submit to the EPA Ad10 ministrator a report describing the activities carried 

11 out under this section, including the findings of the 

12 most recent audit of the State loan fund and the en13 tire State allotment. 

14 (4) AUDITS.—The EPA Administrator shall pe15 riodically audit all State loan funds established by, 

16 and all other amounts allotted to, the States in ac17 cordance with procedures established by the Comp18 troller General of the United States. 

19 (g) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL LAW.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator 

21 shall ensure that all laborers and mechanics em22 ployed on projects funded directly, or assisted in 

23 whole or in part, by a State loan fund established 

24 by this section shall be paid wages at rates not less 

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1 lar in the locality as determined by the Secretary of 

2 Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 

3 31 of part A of subtitle II of title 40, United States 

4 Code. 

5 (2) AUTHORITY.—With respect to the labor 

6 standards specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary 

7 of Labor shall have the authority and functions set 

8 forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 

9 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of 

10 title 40, United States Code. 

11 (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

12 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

13 such amounts as are necessary for each of fiscal years 

14 2020 through 2025. 

15 SEC. 304. GRANT PROGRAMS. 

16 (a) WASTE MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT

17 PROGRAM.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator 

19 may provide grants to units of local government, In20 dian Tribes, and local waste management systems— 

21 (A) to assist those entities in making im22 provements to waste management systems— 

23 (i) to meet waste management stand24 ards established under subtitle D of the 


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1 Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6941 

2 et seq.); and 

3 (ii) to implement the strategy devel4 oped section 302(a); and 

5 (B) to support improvements to local waste 

6 management systems, including traditional and 

7 innovative recycling and reuse technologies. 

8 (2) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 

9 grant under paragraph (1), an applicant shall sub10 mit to the EPA Administrator an application at 

11 such time, in such manner, and containing such in12 formation as the EPA Administrator may require. 

13 (b) DRINKING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator 

15 may provide competitive grants to units of local gov16 ernment (including units of local government that 

17 own treatment works (as defined in section 212 of 

18 the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 

19 1292))), Indian Tribes, and public water systems (as 

20 defined in section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water 

21 Act (42 U.S.C. 300f)), as applicable, to support im22 provements in removing plastic waste from drinking 

23 water, including planning, design, construction, tech24 nical assistance, and planning support for oper25 ational adjustments. 


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1 (2) PREFERENCE.—In making grants under 

2 paragraph (1), the EPA Administrator shall give 

3 preference to applicants that— 

4 (A) seek to improve the removal of micro5 plastics, including microfibers, from drinking 

6 water; and 

7 (B) have demonstrated prior commitment 

8 and success in reducing other pollution sources 

9 in drinking water, such as lead and other con10 taminants. 

11 (3) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 

12 grant under paragraph (1), an applicant shall sub13 mit to the EPA Administrator an application at 

14 such time, in such manner, and containing such in15 formation as the EPA Administrator may require. 

16 (c) WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator 

18 may provide grants to units of local government (in19 cluding units of local government that own treat20 ment works (as defined in section 212 of the Federal 

21 Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1292))) and 

22 public water systems (as defined in section 1401 of 

23 the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f)), as 

24 applicable, to support improvements in removing 

25 plastic waste from wastewater. 


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1 (2) PREFERENCE.—In making grants under 

2 paragraph (1), the EPA Administrator shall give 

3 preference to applicants that— 

4 (A) seek to improve the removal of micro5 plastics, including microfibers, from wastewater; 

6 and 

7 (B) have demonstrated prior commitment 

8 and success in reducing other pollution sources 

9 in wastewater, such as nutrient pollution and 

10 other contaminants. 

11 (3) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 

12 grant under paragraph (1), an applicant shall sub13 mit to the EPA Administrator an application at 

14 such time, in such manner, and containing such in15 formation as the EPA Administrator may require. 

16 (d) TRASH-FREE WATERS GRANTS.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator 

18 may provide grants to political subdivisions of States 

19 and units of local government, Indian Tribes, and 

20 nonprofit organizations— 

21 (A) to support projects to reduce the quan22 tity of trash in bodies of water by reducing the 

23 quantity of trash at the source of the trash, in24 cluding anti-litter initiatives; 

25 (B) to enforce local trash ordinances; 


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1 (C) to implement the trash provisions of a 

2 national pollutant discharge elimination system 

3 permit issued to a municipal separate storm 

4 sewer system under section 402 of the Federal 

5 Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342); 

6 (D) to capture trash at stormwater inlets, 

7 stormwater outfalls, or in bodies of water; 

8 (E) to provide education and outreach 

9 about trash movement and reduction; and 

10 (F) to monitor or model flows of trash, in11 cluding monitoring or modeling a reduction in 

12 trash as a result of the implementation of best 

13 management practices for the reduction of 

14 trash in sources of drinking water. 

15 (2) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 

16 grant under paragraph (1), an applicant shall sub17 mit to the EPA Administrator an application at 

18 such time, in such manner, and containing such in19 formation as the EPA Administrator may require. 

20 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

22 there are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

23 as are necessary to carry out this section. 

24 (2) NO IMPACT ON OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—No funds shall be made 

2 available under paragraph (1) to carry out sub3 sections (b) and (c) in a fiscal year if the total 

4 amount made available to carry out the pro5 grams described in subparagraph (B) for that 

6 fiscal year is less than the total amount made 

7 available to carry out the programs described in 

8 subparagraph (B) for fiscal year 2019. 

9 (B) PROGRAMS DESCRIBED.—The pro10 grams referred to in subparagraph (A) are— 

11 (i) State drinking water treatment re12 volving loan funds established under sec13 tion 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act 

14 (42 U.S.C. 300j–12); 

15 (ii) programs for assistance for small 

16 and disadvantaged communities under sub17 sections (a) through (j) of section 1459A 

18 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 

19 300j–19a); and 

20 (iii) State water pollution control re21 volving funds established under title VI of 

22 the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 

23 (33 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.). 


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1 SEC. 305. STUDY ON REPURPOSING PLASTIC WASTE IN IN2 FRASTRUCTURE. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 

4 (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) and the 

5 EPA Administrator shall seek to jointly enter into an ar6 rangement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engi7 neering, and Medicine under which the National Acad8 emies will— 

9 (1) conduct a study of the feasibility and advis10 ability of innovative uses of plastic waste in road11 ways, bridges, and other infrastructure; and 

12 (2) as part of the study under paragraph (1)— 

13 (A) identify international examples of— 

14 (i) the use of materials described in 

15 that paragraph; and 

16 (ii) projects in which the use of plastic 

17 waste has been applied; 

18 (B) assess the economic benefits, if any, 

19 including employment opportunities, to munici20 palities and States in investing in innovative 

21 reuse of plastic waste in infrastructure; and 

22 (C) if the National Academies consider 

23 uses described in that paragraph to be advis24 able, make recommendations with respect to 

25 what Federal testing standards and other bar26 riers may need to be addressed to enable those 


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1 uses, including with respect to ensuring human 

2 health and safety. 

3 (b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 2 years 

4 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

5 submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under 

6 subsection (a). 

7 (c) GRANT PROGRAM.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—If the National Academies 

9 consider the innovative uses of plastic waste de10 scribed in subsection (a)(1) to be advisable, and the 

11 Secretary agrees, the Secretary shall establish a 

12 grant program to encourage those uses. 

13 (2) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.—If the Sec14 retary establishes a grant program under paragraph 

15 (1), the Secretary shall carry out the grant program 

16 by selecting, through a competitive process, not more 

17 than 5 projects to demonstrate the uses described in 

18 subsection (a)(1), each of which shall be located in 

19 a different region of the United States. 

20 (3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 

21 the date on which the last demonstration project, if 

22 any, is completed under paragraph (2), the Sec23 retary shall submit to Congress a report summa24 rizing the results of the demonstration projects, in25 cluding— 


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1 (A) the total quantity of plastic waste redi2 rected from the waste stream into infrastruc3 ture; 

4 (B) the durability of the infrastructure 

5 constructed with plastic waste; and 

6 (C) any cost savings achieved through the 

7 use of plastic waste in the demonstration 

8 projects. 

9 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

10 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec11 essary to carry out this section. 

12 SEC. 306. STUDY ON OPTIONS TO ADVANCE TECHNOLOGIES 

13 FOR CONVERTING PLASTIC WASTE TO 

14 CHEMICALS, FEEDSTOCKS, AND OTHER 

15 PRODUCTS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator shall 

17 seek to enter into an arrangement with the National Acad18 emies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which 

19 the National Academies will conduct a study on options 

20 to advance technologies (including pyrolysis, 

21 hydropyrolysis, methanolysis, gasification, and enzymatic 

22 breakdown) for converting plastic waste to useful prod23 ucts, such as chemicals, feedstocks, fuels, and energy. 


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1 (b) INCLUSIONS.—As part of the study under sub2 section (a), the National Academies shall conduct an eval3 uation of— 

4 (1) the air emissions associated with tech5 nologies described in that subsection; and 

6 (2) an evaluation of the ability of those tech7 nologies to become cost-competitive with other op8 tions for obtaining source materials or producing en9 ergy. 

10 (c) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 2 years 

11 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the EPA Ad12 ministrator shall submit to Congress a report on the study 

13 conducted under subsection (a). 

14 SEC. 307. STUDY ON EFFECTS OF MICROPLASTICS IN FOOD 

15 SUPPLIES AND SOURCES OF DRINKING 

16 WATER. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—The EPA Administrator, in con18 sultation with the Under Secretary, shall seek to enter into 

19 an arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences, 

20 Engineering, and Medicine under which the National 

21 Academies will conduct a human health and environmental 

22 risk assessment on microplastics, including microfibers, in 

23 food supplies and sources of drinking water. 

24 (b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 2 years 

25 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the EPA AdVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:40 Jul 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1982.IS S1982

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1 ministrator shall submit to Congress a report on the study 

2 conducted under subsection (a) that includes— 

3 (1) a science-based definition of ‘‘microplastics’’ 

4 that can be adopted in federally supported moni5 toring and future assessments supported or con6 ducted by a Federal agency; 

7 (2) recommendations for standardized moni8 toring, testing, and other necessary protocols relat9 ing to microplastics; 

10 (3)(A) an assessment of whether microplastics 

11 are currently present in the food supplies and 

12 sources of drinking water of United States con13 sumers; and 

14 (B) if the assessment under subparagraph (A) 

15 is positive— 

16 (i) the extent to which microplastics are 

17 present in the food supplies and sources of 

18 drinking water; and 

19 (ii) an assessment of the type, source, 

20 prevalence, and risk of microplastics in the food 

21 supplies and sources of drinking water; 

22 (4) an assessment of the risk posed, if any, by 

23 the presence of microplastics in the food supplies 

24 and sources of drinking water of United States con25 sumers that includes— 


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1 (A) an identification of the most signifi2 cant sources of those microplastics; and 

3 (B) a review of the best available science 

4 to determine any potential hazards of micro5 plastics in the food supplies and sources of 

6 drinking water of United States consumers; and 

7 (5) a measurement of— 

8 (A) the quantity of environmental chemi9 cals that absorb to microplastics; and 

10 (B) the quantity described in subpara11 graph (A) that would be available for human 

12 exposure through food supplies or sources of 

13 drinking water. 

14 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

15 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec16 essary to carry out this section. 

17 SEC. 308. REPORT ON ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO IN18 CREASE THE COLLECTION OF RECYCLABLE 

19 MATERIALS. 

20 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

21 of this Act, the EPA Administrator shall submit to Con22 gress a report describing— 

23 (1) the economic, technological, resource avail24 ability, or other barriers to increasing the collection 

25 of recyclable materials; and 


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1 (2) recommendations to overcome the barriers 

2 described under paragraph (1). 

3 SEC. 309. REPORT ON ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO SPUR DE4 VELOPMENT OF NEW END-USE MARKETS FOR 

5 RECYCLED PLASTICS. 

6 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

7 of this Act, the EPA Administrator shall submit to Con8 gress a report describing the most efficient and effective 

9 economic incentives to spur the development of additional 

10 new end-use markets for recyclable plastics, including the 

11 use of increased recycled content by manufacturers in the 

12 production of plastic goods and packaging. 

Æ 


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